[Paddlewise] float coats, VHF radios, what to tell the public

A number of boating regulatory agencies seem reluctant to tell paddlers to
dress to swim, test their gear etc. My State of PA tells cold water boaters
that if they fall or capsize into cold water to put their hands over their
mouth and nose to keep from gasping/inhaling cold water. No mention of how
to swim back to the surface. National Safe Boating Council has instructed
paddlers to wear manually inflatable life jackets (If you go over, pull the
cord to activate the inflation system), no mention of getting the spray
skirt off, pushing out of the boat, keeping a grip on the boat and on the
paddle. So far that might require the simultaneous use of 4 to 6 hands, it
seems to me-not counting the ones used to cover your nose and mouth and swim
to the surface. 

 

Last year, the winner of the "Saved by the life jacket" essay contest, run
by the National Safe Boating Council, awarded the prize to a fellow that
capsized into 40 degree water (upper Mississippi River, March) to a fellow
wearing a pfd, shorty wetsuit, and who had a cell phone in a water tight
container. The fellow was able to call 911 for help and stay on the line, in
control and lucid until a rescue squad arrived. He was not "Saved by the
Life Jacket". He was saved by his life jacket, shorty wetsuit and his
ability to call for help. NSBC refused to say that all three safety elements
were essential for the young man's survival.

 

To what extent does a float coat exclude water from around the torso? Who
has tried such gear in cold water?

 

Do most of you carry a VHF OR cell phone on your PFD or Boat when out on
cold water?

 

Are VHF radios effective/monitored on inland waters/lakes/rivers?

 

Are there any states that overtly recommend what we understand as proper
gear/training for open water paddlers?

Name the State and their website!

 

I believe that regulatory agencies have different objectives than we do.
They count up the number of dead boaters at the end of the year and hope
that there will be fewer recorded than the previous year. They are correct
that if everyone wore PFDs on cold water, there would be fewer deaths. That
however does not, in my view, justify telling boaters to just wear a pfd,
and that they have one minute to get over the gasping, 10 minutes to call
for help before cold paralysis eradicates their ability to help themselves,
and 1 hour before they die from the cold.

 

Our objective is different!!  Our premise is that NO ONE SHOULD DIE from a
swim in cold water. We therefore train boaters to do their own rescues,
dress to swim, be able to remain functional in the water for a while if
rescue is necessary and be able to call for assistance. It is NOT-Just wear
a PFD!!! WE ARE NOT TRYING TO JUST REDUCE THE NUMBER OF BOATING DEATHS by,
say, 5% !!!

 

The Cold Water Boot Camp volunteer swimmer from CT, gave several lectures
about cold water immersion after their DVD came out. He refused to recommend
anything beyond "WEAR A PFD ON COLD WATER". Refused to say why!!

 

Comments?

 

Chuck Sutherland

skimmer_at_enter.net
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