Re: [Paddlewise] lost kayaker in tampa bay.....

   It used to be teenagers primarily who felt they were immortal and acted accordingly.  This seems to have spread over the ages now.  Here in NJ now we see a ;ack of coution by drivers in the snow and ice.  They ignore it.  I don't know why this has developed. 
   One factor that is always glaringly absent is the idea of dressing for the water, not the air.  It's almost never mentioned.  I suppose that at least partly it's associated with the above.  "I'm NOT one of those who will capsize.  That's for the others."  Perhaps getting that notion across could be helpful. 

    WRT proper clothing;  I lived in Florida for a long time (Gainesville) and of course it got cold in the winter, and we learned to dress for the occasions.  I did use a wetsuit during the colder weather.

    But even during the warmer summer weather I found myself wearing it.  --Not for the usual paddling but I was doing fieldwork in some of the springs there.  Constant year-round temps of 72 degress or so.  If I were immersed in that water for more than 30-40 minutes I would become seriously chilled.  You Had to wear one.  


-----Original Message-----
>From: Nole4ever_at_aol.com
>craig,
>i agree that more information would have been appropriate, but i find a  
>general disregard of safety
>around here..... and with the air temp  this week in the low to  mid 70's, 
>i'm surprised that we don't
>have more accidents like this....
>steve
>tampa/st pete
> 
>crjungers_at_gmail.com writes:
>Article  mentions that water temperatures below 60-degrees are dangerous 
>but doesn't  say a word about what sort of clothing to wear as protection; 
>just wear a PFD.  Interesting.
>
>_tbt*_ (_http://tampabaytimes.fl.newsmemory.com/_ 
>(http://tampabaytimes.fl.newsmemory.com/) )
>(page 14 if  the link doesn't open to the story)
>article in the st.  pete times about a lost kayaker in tampa bay.....
>actually two  kayakers....
>one made it.... one didn't  ......
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