Re: [Paddlewise] Cold and skills

I find that I exhaust easily in cold water once submerged to neck level - even with typical-duty immesion wear if semi-submerged for any length of time and unable to re-enter or secure immediate rescue/help in a rough sea state. While a PFD may just prolong the inevitable, in the immediate, the combo of immersion gear and bouyancy mitigate some of the exhaustion.

The recent Sea Kayaker magazine safety article where a guide was in storm-tossed waters for some time without his kayak demonstrated the utility of the PFD. And this was in warm water off Costa Rica. 

While Nick's post was most excellent, for me the skills, gear, experience equation - especially in a cold-water environment context - balances out the outcome survivability in an opened-ended incident when one has a number of reliable, assending back up plans. 

Doug Lloyd 


> On 5/20/2010 12:46 PM, James Farrelly wrote:
> > I told my wife and daughter about the two deaths. My 14 yr old
> > daughter didn't seem to get it so I filled a glass with ice 
> water and
> > had her stick her hand in for about 30 seconds. She said it really
> > hurt after about ten seconds. I seem to have made an impression.
> 
> How about a follow-up? Put her hand in a neoprene glove and see 
> how long 
> she can last. It may reinforce the habit of putting on that icky 
> rubber 
> suit every day and give her a little piece of mind. And you, too.
> 
> Steve
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************