Another section on this site, http://lposka.7ich.com/home/safety-considerations, complements this section. Nearly everything you take on a paddling trip has safety ramifications - the kayak itself, paddles, food and water, compass etc. In addition, you need common sense and intuition, typically built through experience i.e. memorable mistakes. But here I focus on those special items which one would term safety gear. The list was created with an ocean environment in mind. Nevertheless, many of the items make sense in a large lake environment such as Lake Pend Oreille especially in themore remote areas of the lake. I'll write a few words about each item (exposing my biases/preferences) and leave it to the interested reader to search elsewhere for more information. The items I'll discuss briefly are these:
Paddle Float A paddle float allows a capsized kayaker to create an outrigger (paddle plus paddle float) to aid reentry into the kayak, typically for unassisted self rescues. There are perhaps two categories of paddle float:
Note that even a kayaker with a bomb-proof roll will want the paddle float option in certain circumstances. Kayak sponsons could play a similar role in reentry, but I haven't tried them and cannot offer an informed opinion. Reentry Stirrup A length of rope or a kayak car rack tie-down strap can be adjusted to provide you with a stirrup to aid in reentry. To deploy this when needed, I loop a strap around my coaming adjusting the length so that the other side hangs into the water where i can step into it, essentially using it as a stirrup. A person who is disabled/injured can often reenter the kayak with this aid - in addition to the paddle float outrigger. I adjust the loop to fit my leg length, but leave it adjustable so I can help someone else in an assisted rescue scenario, by looping it around that person's kayak coaming and then adjusting the length appropriately. Extra Paddle Even if you use a paddle leash and are convinced you won't lose your paddle, it can be broken. It's not that hard to carry an extra paddle. At the least, you can carry a half paddle if you have one made to come apart - or a canoe paddle. Pump or Equivalent - and Sponge This is a safety issue because significant water in a kayak noticeably degrades stability. And if it's a hypothermic kind of situation, the water in the kayak can be a big problem. So this is straightforward - if significant water gets into your kayak, you want to get it back out. Manual pumps work pretty well until the water is nearly gone. Then you'll need a sponge, if you want that last bit out. Throw Bag A throw bag contains a line and is designed so that the line plays out when it is thrown. Typically you take out enough line at the top of the bag and hold that securely in one hand while you throw the bag with the other hand to the person needing help. The line plays out along the bag's trajectory and you end up with a line from you to the target person. Throwing from a kayak is trickier than throwing from land. If you think about it, you want the kayak pointing in the direction of the throw. Similarly you may want that same orientation as you subsequently reel the line back in with a person/kayak on the other end. If that orientation is not possible, you must take extra care not to capsize from the sideways forces you are exerting. Throwing the bag to an unconscious victim seems pointless (the bags don't have hooks on the end). If the target is panicky, you must attempt to to calm that person enough to be functional at catching the bag. Typically you would paddle up to the person in trouble and use a tow line, rather than employing a throw bag. The throw bag makes much more sense for river kayaking than sea kayaking. There are those of the opinion that the Canadian requirement for a buoyant heaving line at least 15 meters long (e.g. a throw bag) doesn't make as much sense for sea kayakers as does a tow belt. I suppose if you're cycling through some tidal rapids, essentially simulating river kayaking, the throw bag would be potentially useful. PFD (Personal Flotation Device) A pfd will provide personal flotation should the kayaker end up in the water. These pfds must be comfortable enough so that they can be worn while paddling for a long time. Consequently, such pfds are not designed with the bulk necessary to keep the head of an unconscious victim out of the water. Therefore, an unconscious victim is then likely to drown. Nevertheless, a pfd offers a large margin of safety. If possible, they should be worn all the time, but in warm climates this may lead to unacceptable chafing of the skin in a multi day expedition. In some circumstances (particularly in frigid water), a pfd is analogous to a seat belt - when you need it, it's too late to put it on. A pfd should fit snugly and not ride up around your ears. A typical novice error is to pick one that is too large (been there). It should have a useful selection of pockets and a way to fasten your knife securely. Whistle or Equivalent If traveling with other kayakers, everyone needs to stay within hailing distance. Nevertheless, the lead kayakers don't have eyes in the backs of their heads. Should a situation arise where you need to get their attention, a whistle works. You can even work out a more extensive communication protocol, if the group has none established. Kayak clubs sometime formalize this. A whistle can also help alert someone on an adjacent shore or a nearby vessel of your proximity. Of course, the bigger and louder that other vessel is, the less effective is the whistle. In such cases a marine radio can be crucial. Be aware that we kayakers are often called speed bumps. Knife With deck rigging, throw lines, paddle leashes etc., there are many potential ways to get entangled. In a capsize event, this could be somewhere between inconvenient and deadly. Having a knife, easily drawn from a pfd mounted scabbard makes great sense. Once drawn, the knife should still be fastened to the pfd e.g. by a short line and carabiner. Of course, a knife can also be used for many mundane tasks e.g. cutting up an apple at lunch. It's just a handy tool. But buy a good one and maintain it. Titanium will not rust; while even stainless steel will eventually succumb to salt water, Tow Belt There are various reasons why a kayak may need to be towed. A common one would be that the paddler could no longer paddle due to some sort of overuse or other injury e.g. to the arm or to the back. I carry a tow line with a quick release belt. The tow line has a section of shock cord incorporated. This allows me to tow another kayak, but release it if conditions prove infeasible. Additionally, my kayak has another tow line with shock cord as part of its deck rigging - so I can be towed by others who are not otherwise set up to tow me e.g. with a tow belt. A tow belt isn't designed to be thrown and is not a good substitute for a throw bag. Marine Radio The marine radio provides
For kayakers a hand held, submersible radio that floats makes sense. A way to replace or recharge batteries on longer expeditions is necessary. Once you carry a marine radio, there is a responsibility to learn how to use it properly - not only how it works, but also the accepted communication protocols. Otherwise, safety can be compromised. First Aid Kit Obviously, some sort of general purpose first aid kit is wise. You should also know how to use it. With some first aid training, you'll know what needs to be in the kit and how to use it. Patch & Tool Kit It is possible that you may spring a leak in your kayak - this would not be unusual. Having some sort of patch kit which can provide a waterproof patch in a short time is smart. There are epoxy products that cure rapidly and can even be applied underwater. What else you might place in a tool kit depends on what you might need to repair while on a trip - a rudder, deck rigging, a tent, a headache? My kit includes what I think my equipment might require in repairs to keep me paddling for the day ... within reason. Appropriate Navigation Lights if Traveling when Dark Kayaks, relatively invisible by day because of the low profile, are even worse at night. If you must travel at night, mount the appropriate navigation lights as required by the jurisdiction in which you are paddling. Head lamps can be useful. A local kayak outfitter/store is a possible source of information and the actual gear. These lights not only alert other vessels of your presence, but also allow members of a kayak paddling group to keep track of each other. Practice is Required Learning to use the various items of safety gear should not be left until there is an emergency situation. An obvious example is to drill by deliberately capsizing your kayak and practicing unassisted reentry with the paddle float, subsequently stowing the paddle float, emptying the water from the kayak, and starting to paddle again. You'll get faster and more solid. So if the day comes when you capsize inadvertently in semi-heavy, very cold water, you'll recover and be underway again - generating heat to counter hypothermia. When I was first taught to do an unassisted paddle float self rescue, I very successfully deployed the paddle float, clambered back into my kayak, and promptly capsized on the side opposite the outrigger, because I forgot to keep my weight on the outrigger side while getting seated - even though the instructor had emphasized that point. I immediately made a second, totally successful attempt. This is something I practice each season in varying conditions. In the various lessons I took, the throw bag was somewhat neglected. There are some good (and not so good) explanatory videos on the web. I used these to learn proper technique and then practiced. This is an important fact - you can learn from videos. An actual live and good instructor is preferable, but that is not an option in all cases. Again, any such instruction should be folowed by routine practice. For most of us, practicing safety techniques with a group of fellow paddlers is actually quite fun. Experienced kayakers often offer extra tidbits of information that can be quite useful - they might explain something a special way which works exactly right for you. |