Paddle sport deaths on the rise...

[Darren.]

Came across this article this AM. I'm sure @A-Jay can attest to
it being in the Coast Guard...

A reminder to *please* wear your PFD when you kayak fish!

“In the industry we call it the ‘Kmart kayaker,'” Emmons told GrindTV. “As kayak manufacturing processes were developed to make them less expensive, kayak brands found mass merchant places to sell them over the years.”

“Now they’re found in Costco and BJ’s and Sam’s Club, and you can go into Costco, get groceries, and walk out with a 12-pack and a kayak,” Emmons continued. “But nobody is telling you about how you need a lifejacket, or that the water temperature might be 50 degrees.”

 

http://www.grindtv.com/paddle-sports/why-are-deaths-in-paddle-sports-increasing

[A-Jay]

The cost of any watercraft as well as where it may be purchased is of little importance when it comes to using it safely.

I will say that the recent popularity in "Paddle Boards" is a concern.

The advertisements for these products usually show them as a close to shore, at the beach, shallow water - NO LIFE JACKET NECCESARY type of deal.  Well, in typical fashion the masses have decided to take this insanity well off shore, off the banks and into the path of high speed powered vessel traffic.  But still No Life Jacket.  As far as I know there are no regulations that dictate a PFD must be worn on a paddle board.  Just importantly there are no limits as far as where or when they can be used.  

Here's my personal experience scenario -  a few mornings ago, before first light (did have daylight), I was on plane (50 mph) heading across a Large Lake en route to my first fishing spot. I was running my navigation lights in accordance with state laws.  Approximately 1000 yds (that's 1/2 a nautical mile) for any shore, I come up on a human wearing a black shorts, no shirt and no Life Jacket on a Paddle board.  Could barely see him and certainly didn't anticipate him.   An inattentive or distracted  boat driver could have been very easy Not Seen Him.   Bad Day for every one.

After years of Search & Rescue and living through the challenges that the first Jet Ski users brought on - this does not surprise me.  People do stuff, sometimes it's not smart.  And they die.   I wish publicity & posts like this could be more effective. 

My advice is - it you are a paddle boarder or know someone who is - wearing a PFD is a must. Additionally, Stay close to shore or at the very least away from boats that travel on plane. 

If you're a "Boater" and even if you've not seen paddle boarders in your area previously, be attentive.

A-Jay

 

[soflabasser]

Wearing a PFD is important  as well as being a strong swimmer when spending time on the water.Everyone who spends time on the water needs to be a strong swimmer,there are no exceptions.Take some swimming classes if you don't know how to swim,it might save your life one day if you fall off your boat without a life vest on.

 

[A-Jay]

18 minutes ago, soflabasser said:

Wearing a PFD is important  as well as being a strong swimmer when spending time on the water.Everyone who spends time on the water needs to be a strong swimmer,there are no exceptions.Take some swimming classes if you don't know how to swim,it might save your life one day if you fall off your boat without a life vest on.

 

While I'd agree that having some swimming skills when you go over the side can assist in your recovery, especially if you're alone, being a "Strong Swimmer" is not a replacement for a Wearing a Life Jacket.

National Drowning statistics are full of names of Very Strong Swimmers where the names of Life Jacket wearers are noticeably absent from the same lists.  (Hyperthermia aside).

A-Jay 

 

[Darren.]

3 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

While I'd agree that having some swimming skills when you go over the side can assist in your recovery, especially if you're alone, being a "Strong Swimmer" is not a replacement for a Wearing a Life Jacket.

National Drowning statistics are full of names of Very Strong Swimmers where the names of Life Jacket wearers are noticeably absent from the same lists.  (Hyperthermia aside).

A-Jay 

 

100% agree. I think he's right that being able to
swim can help.

If Michael Phelps fell overboard and smacked
his head on the gunnel, knocking him out, his
phenomenal skills won't save him, but a PFD
very well might.

[soflabasser]

That's why I mentioned that anyone that spends time on the water (boat,kayak,jetski,etc) needs to have a PFD and be a strong swimmer.We have lots of drowning deaths in our state and many of those deaths could of been prevented if the person knew how to swim well. Solely relying on the PFD and not knowing how to swim is not the solution since non swimmers tend to panic easily in deep water while most strong swimmers don't panic easily.Having confidence in the water is very valuable when one is forced to swim back to the boat (or kayak,jetski,etc) or swim back to the shore if needed.

[Fisher-O-men]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

 

My advice is - it you are a paddle boarder or know someone who is - wearing a PFD is a must. Additionally, Stay close to shore or at the very least away from boats that travel on plane. 

 

A-Jay

 

C'mon now!  There is no way you can look sexy wearing a PFD! 

[A-Jay]

5 minutes ago, Fisher-O-men said:

C'mon now!  There is no way you can look sexy wearing a PFD! 

Clearly decorum mandates not going into detail, but when some of these truly grim & ghastly scenes & images have been experienced and burned into ones memory, the word sexy is never attached.

A-Jay

 

[slonezp]

49 minutes ago, Fisher-O-men said:

C'mon now!  There is no way you can look sexy wearing a PFD! 

Be careful what you wish for. Here's me looking sexy without a PFD

20 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Clearly decorum mandates not going into detail, but when some of these truly grim & ghastly scenes & images have been experienced and burned into ones memory, the word sexy is never attached.

A-Jay

 

[A-Jay]

 It's obvious to even the most casual observer that when it comes on the water safety including wearing a life Jacket, I'm a little more invested than the average bear.  

Disregard for ones safety and / or endangering others on the water, intentional or not, happens every minute of everyday; by professional & recreational humans alike.   Sometimes, nothing bad happens.  Sometimes it does.   This can be compared to many things that we do in life.  Really bad stuff happens to really good people.  People who have done everything they could have to be safe.  And it's not all preventable. 

I choose to respond to these threads in the hopes that they might help someone take pause to understand just how sudden & final any of these situations can be.

I try not to over due it however, as there is a fine line between passing the word effectively and being tuned out for "Saying the same old thing".

A-Jay

[S. Sass]

2 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I choose to respond to these threads in the hopes that they might help someone take pause to understand just how sudden & final any of these situations can be.

I try not to over due it however, as there is a fine line between passing the word effectively and being tuned out for "Saying the same old thing".

A-Jay

Kind a like telling your best friend not to get married. Statistics say bad bad bad idea unless your into mental torture, pain, and suffering. He will get married anyway. 

[Bluebasser86]

14 hours ago, A-Jay said:

While I'd agree that having some swimming skills when you go over the side can assist in your recovery, especially if you're alone, being a "Strong Swimmer" is not a replacement for a Wearing a Life Jacket.

National Drowning statistics are full of names of Very Strong Swimmers where the names of Life Jacket wearers are noticeably absent from the same lists.  (Hyperthermia aside).

A-Jay 

 

Agreed. I've been around the water my entire life and consider myself a strong swimmer, but when I flipped my kayak back in March and submerged into the mid 50 degree water, all I could do was grab at my kayak to hold myself up. That cold water felt like it short circuited my brain for a minute, I was completely disoriented. It only took maybe 10 seconds to calm myself and get into recovery mode, but a lot could have happened if I didn't have my PFD on. 

[Sam]

A-Jay is totally correct regarding wearing your PFD and staying out of the way of fast boats.

Last time out on the Historic James River my friend and I were returning to the ramp for the weigh-in at dusk and I saw "something" in the water ahead of us, but could not make it out.

I slowed down to around 30 MPH (down from 45 MPH) as I got closer to the "object."

The "object" was a woman on a jet ski sitting in the middle of the river by the power plant. No lights. No PFD. Wearing dark clothes.

I slowed down to 20 MPH and went as far from her as I could go to make a safe pass.

I know that if the "object" was a paddle board we could have had a very difficult time missing it since a paddle board has smaller profile than a jet ski.

Just "a word to the wise is sufficient," as my old high school principal used to say.

[Dwight Hottle]

Most recent kayak tragedy from the waters of lake erie. A quick google search found three drowning deaths over the last two years. http://wivb.com/2016/08/18/body-of-missing-kayaker-found-in-lake-erie/ 

[Fishing Rhino]

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 1:32 PM, slonezp said:

Be careful what you wish for. Here's me looking sexy without a PFD

Please, put on your pfd, and it better not be the inflatable type.

If you don't, I'll have to post the picture with the birdie.

Here's the deal that is seldom mentioned when it comes to wearing PFDs.

I always wear one when I'm on the water.  If I have a fatal heart attack, and fall off the boat, it will make finding my body a lot easier.  It will also save the government  money by not having to drag the waters looking for my sunken body.  It will also be easier on my family.  The quicker they find my body, the better.

[Choporoz]

I'm devil advocating a bit here, but as a yakker, just a little....but being legally lighted doesn't alleviate boaters of their responsibilities, either.  I've been on the wake end of a LOT of boaters who seem to feel that 50MPH on plane means that anything smaller simply has no business being in their path.  I wear my PFD always and I show a 360 light beginning prior to sunset until sunrise....and an orange flag 24/7.  I only cross marked channels when I've evaluated it as safe and I don't linger there. 

   And, still, I feel abused by boaters every few times out.

     Recognition that there's more and more rec paddlers should lead to more boater caution.... not just anger and frustration.

And...now for the good news....

https://blog.wildlife.virginia.gov/outdoor-report/2016/08/kayakers-rescued-on-the-rappahannock/

http://www.fox5dc.com/news/national/194864062-story

 

[boydn1]

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 10:17 AM, A-Jay said:

The cost of any watercraft as well as where it may be purchased is of little importance when it comes to using it safely.

I will say that the recent popularity in "Paddle Boards" is a concern.

The advertisements for these products usually show them as a close to shore, at the beach, shallow water - NO LIFE JACKET NECCESARY type of deal.  Well, in typical fashion the masses have decided to take this insanity well off shore, off the banks and into the path of high speed powered vessel traffic.  But still No Life Jacket.  As far as I know there are no regulations that dictate a PFD must be worn on a paddle board.  Just importantly there are no limits as far as where or when they can be used.  

Here's my personal experience scenario -  a few mornings ago, before first light (did have daylight), I was on plane (50 mph) heading across a Large Lake en route to my first fishing spot. I was running my navigation lights in accordance with state laws.  Approximately 1000 yds (that's 1/2 a nautical mile) for any shore, I come up on a human wearing a black shorts, no shirt and no Life Jacket on a Paddle board.  Could barely see him and certainly didn't anticipate him.   An inattentive or distracted  boat driver could have been very easy Not Seen Him.   Bad Day for every one.

After years of Search & Rescue and living through the challenges that the first Jet Ski users brought on - this does not surprise me.  People do stuff, sometimes it's not smart.  And they die.   I wish publicity & posts like this could be more effective. 

My advice is - it you are a paddle boarder or know someone who is - wearing a PFD is a must. Additionally, Stay close to shore or at the very least away from boats that travel on plane. 

If you're a "Boater" and even if you've not seen paddle boarders in your area previously, be attentive.

A-Jay

 

My Wife has taken up Paddle boarding and isn't happy that I want her to wear a life jacket.

On ‎8‎/‎20‎/‎2016 at 11:14 AM, soflabasser said:

That's why I mentioned that anyone that spends time on the water (boat,kayak,jetski,etc) needs to have a PFD and be a strong swimmer.We have lots of drowning deaths in our state and many of those deaths could of been prevented if the person knew how to swim well. Solely relying on the PFD and not knowing how to swim is not the solution since non swimmers tend to panic easily in deep water while most strong swimmers don't panic easily.Having confidence in the water is very valuable when one is forced to swim back to the boat (or kayak,jetski,etc) or swim back to the shore if needed.

Not sure I'm buying that.  While being a strong swimmer is beneficial, a PFD will keep you afloat and as long as you're floating, you're not drowning.

[Gundog]

2 minutes ago, boydn1 said:

My Wife has taken up Paddle boarding and isn't happy that I want her to wear a life jacket.

Tell her that life insurance policies are too expensive....and you don't want her to die. You can put that sentence in any order you like depending on if she has a sense of humor or not.

[boydn1]

3 minutes ago, Gundog said:

Tell her that life insurance policies are too expensive....and you don't want her to die. You can put that sentence in any order you like depending on if she has a sense of humor or not.

Already had that talk.  Got pretty good insurance but, REALLY want to keep here around.

[A-Jay]

6 minutes ago, boydn1 said:

My Wife has taken up Paddle boarding and isn't happy that I want her to wear a life jacket.

After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.

Sometimes one doesn't get a second chance.

A-Jay

[Further North]

On 8/20/2016 at 10:32 AM, soflabasser said:

Wearing a PFD is important  as well as being a strong swimmer when spending time on the water.Everyone who spends time on the water needs to be a strong swimmer,there are no exceptions.Take some swimming classes if you don't know how to swim,it might save your life one day if you fall off your boat without a life vest on.

 

So if I'm not a strong swimmer I have to give up fishing?

I'll never be a "strong' swimmer", nor will a lot of people who are out on boats.

I'm an adequate swimmer, and I wear my PFD.  Works for me.

[OCdockskipper]

No, you don't have to be a strong swimmer to go out on a boat, just realize that by not being one, you are then giving control in an emergency situation to someone else.

I am not an expert pilot, so I realize when I am on a plane, I have ceded control of my destiny to someone else.  Not necessarily a bad thing, but it makes me think "Do I really have to get on an airplane to make this trip?".

I want to be on & around water as much as possible and I don't want to have to rely on someone else's skills if something should go wrong.  Therefore, I chose to do what it takes to become a strong swimmer in order to keep that control with me.

Different strokes for different folks...

[soflabasser]

2 hours ago, OCdockskipper said:

No, you don't have to be a strong swimmer to go out on a boat, just realize that by not being one, you are then giving control in an emergency situation to someone else.

I want to be on & around water as much as possible and I don't want to have to rely on someone else's skills if something should go wrong.  Therefore, I chose to do what it takes to become a strong swimmer in order to keep that control with me.

Different strokes for different folks...

^

This!

I won't go into detail but let's just say being a strong swimmer has saved my life on more than one occasion.Like someone else said,a life experience will change your outlook on things, and that is a lesson you learn in person, not on the Internet. 

[boydn1]

PFD=Float, Float=Not Drown..........

Swim, bad idea stay with the boat....