What You Should Know Before You Go: �A Paddler’s Guide to Safety

Presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary in cooperation with the American Canoe Association

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Paddlesport Participation

• The number of people who are engaged in paddlesports are on the rise...
• Low entry cost, easy storage, less maintenance and flexibility

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Unfortunately, so are the number of paddlesport deaths

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Fatalities

”Boats in Aisle Five”

Most boats are now sold

• By retailers who are not paddlers
• Without any instruction or guidance

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All Fun, but….

• Risks are always at hand when you are on the water.
• Our hope is that you learn about paddling so you can stay safe and have fun on the water.
• Top 10 Tips VIDEO

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Don't Overload Your Boat

• Freeboard
• Draft

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Take Care of the Boat

• keep it clean,
• check for hull and hardware integrity,
• make sure any damaged parts are repaired before heading out

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The Boat

Match the craft to the paddler and the desired activity

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Basic Paddlecraft

Kayak Types

• Sit in – boat has a deck over the paddler’s legs; paddlers may use a skirt to hold water out of the boat
• Sit on top – boat has no deck over the paddler’s legs and no skirt is used

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Kayak Types

• Touring/sea kayak
• typically longer and narrower,
• designed to travel relatively long distances,
• generally secure bulkheads / internal storage
• Recreational
• typically wider and shorter than touring kayak,
• does not have bulkheads and internal storage
• Whitewater
• typically shorter and more maneuverable,
• internal supports or bulkheads to provide extra structural strength

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Basic Kayak Terms

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Kayak Fishing

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Kayak Fishing

• Challenges: balance, can pull you in
• practice... and wear your life jacket
• Anchor from the bow, not the cockpit.
• Requires special equipment and knowledge
• Lines in the water, and gear on deck,
• can make it difficult to re-enter the boat
• Hooks and lines in the water
• make swimming around the boat dangerous.
• Take an empty bottle to relieve yourself.
• Mark it with duct tape

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Flotation

Native

• minimum required by regulation,
• amount needed to maintain neutral buoyancy in calm waters.
• closed cell foam wrapped around the vertical support strut bow and stern.

Added

• inflatable bags will dramatically increase buoyancy if the boat capsizes and fill with water.

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Canoe Types

• Tandem
• designed to be paddled by two people
• Solo
• designed to be paddled by one person
• Flatwater
• lower freeboard (to reduce windage) and less rocker (to improve tracking)
• Whitewater
• more freeboard (to keep drier in rapids) and more rocker (to improve maneuverability)

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Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs)

• SUPs-are legally vessels.
• Operators must have a life jacket aboard EXCEPT in a surf zone. Inflatable lifejackets are commonly used.
• Ankle leashes are useful, but not for surf or swift currents

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SUPs

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Required Equipment

USCG-approved Life Jackets

• Lifejackets are required for every person in the boat, and should be worn by everyone whenever they paddle
• May be inflatable, manual not automatic
• Lifejackets need to be fitted and adjusted appropriately
• Bright colors such as red, yellow, or orange are preferred to enhance visibility
• Match the lifejacket to the paddler and the desired activity

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Benefits of Life Jackets

• Dramatically reduces the risk of injury or death during capsizes and falls overboard, common among paddlers
• Reduce the risk of drowning,
• Provide protection from rocks and other debris in rivers,
• Provide a place to store critical emergency equipment (e.g., whistle, signal mirror, light),
• Can Help keep paddlers warm.

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Sound Device

“Sound device”—a whistle—attached to the Life Jacket

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Lights

• At night or in periods of limited visibility—overcast, fog, or drizzle—an all-around white light is required.
• This can be an LED light that fastens to the boat or a hand held flashlight.
• Make a flashlight brighter by attaching to an empty waterbottle.
• Check the batteries regularly.

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Visual Distress Signals

• Hand held flares are useful, especially if boating offshore
• For day use, a distress flag is a low cost way to add visibility in a distress situation.
• tie to your paddle and waved like a flag
• draped over yourself or your boat to increase visibility

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What to Wear Video

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Other Equipment

Other Equipment

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Other Equipment

• Adequate food, water, and extra clothing.
• Fill bottle half way so it floats & is easy to see
• Clothing and equipment (e.g., hats, sunblock, extra clothes) to reduce the risks of hypothermia and sunburn
• Carry appropriate rescue gear and learn how to use it
• Printed pre-underway checklist
• Sponge and/or manual pump for dewatering

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Other Equipment

• Safety Gear: Paddle float, paddle leash, spray skirt
• Bow line and/or stern line to tie up along a dock or ashore
• Watch, (waterproof)
• Chart of Local Area
• Repair equipment such as extra rudder cable, spare foot peg, and drain plug

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Other Equipment

• Flotation foam or bags sufficient to permit self-rescue
• GPS, Compass
• Rescue throw bag
• Spare paddle/oar
• First Aid Kit
• Emergency survival “space” blankets (2)

Be sure to securely attach everything to your boat so nothing can float away after a capsize!

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“If Found” Stickers

• To Identify owner if the boat blows away or there is a mishap.
• Absent registration, there is no other way to identify the owner and determine if a drifting boat was occupied or not.

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Put your name and your home telephone number on your boat!�

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John Doe

Home phone

Another phone-spouse cell

If you had your cell phone in the kayak, it won’t work wet!

Communications

• A VHF radio can be heard by anyone within hearing range of the broadcast to provide assistance.
• The best radios to get for paddling in coastal waters have built-in GPS and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities.
• A proper radio should be waterproof, floatable, have a light and/or reflectivity.
• Cell phones can be used for backup (keep in a waterproof container)

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Trip Planning

Anticipated Destination

• Match the paddler’s skill with the planned destination – new paddlers to be conservative and choose paddling venues with minimal hazards
• Check for weather and water conditions
• Learn about local hazards
• Learn about access points
• Have a back up plan

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Float Plan

• Describe your route and access points,
• Length of trip,
• Number of people and boats on the trip,
• When you would be overdue, and what to do if you are overdue.

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“Smart” Resources

• These Apps are available for free in iOS or Android format from your Apps Store:

ACA’s Paddle Ready Coast Guard Boat Safety

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Equipment Preparation

• Make sure you have appropriate equipment for your type of boat and the area you plan to paddle
• Make sure your equipment is in good working order before you head out
• Stow the equipment properly; plan for a capsize
• Make sure you have appropriate charts, maps and directions

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Group

• Paddling with a group is safer (3 people / two boat minimum)
• Ensure each group member has appropriate knowledge, skills and equipment for the trip

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Trip Planning Video

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Getting to the Water

Transporting and Securing Your Boat

• Drivers are responsible for the load on, or towed by, their vehicle!
• If it comes off and damages someone or something, you are liable.
• Use appropriate knots, ropes and straps to secure your boat
• Tie at two points across the beam to secure to the rack, tie bow and stern to secure to vehicle (4 point tie down is best)

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Transporting and Securing Your Boat

• Ensure nothing can blow out during transport
• Use appropriate racks or trailers for your boat
• Consider using locks to secure your boat
• Shock cord or other stretchy material is not adequate—use stout line (rope) or locking straps

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At the Water's Edge

At the Water’s Edge

• Check equipment again-use a check list instead of memory
• File your float plan
• Clarify your group communications with each other and with backups

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Final Equipment Check

• Everyone has appropriate safety and protective equipment
• life jacket is being worn and used appropriately.
• Boat, paddle, lifejacket and additional equipment is in good working order
• look for cracks, holes, tears, other damage.
• Secure all equipment in the boat
• boat is properly balanced
• equipment is not lost during a capsize.

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Navigation Check

• Everyone knows the planned route
• Return shuttle arrangements, if needed
• Everyone understands navigational markers in the area
• channel markers, dam warnings, restricted areas
• Everyone understands any potential “no-boating” areas
• security areas around military vessels

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Navigation Check

• Avoid navigable channels, stay close to shore; minimize time crossing channels
• PADDLE DEFENSIVELY! Many boaters won't see you and you may get run over.
• Take steps to avoid collision or a near miss
• Review hand and arm signals
• Test radios or phones and ensure they are waterproofed

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Awareness

• Be aware of other vessels such as powerboats and commercial boats
• Learn the Navigation “Rules of the Road” and apply them!
• You are responsible to keep clear of other boats

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Personal Visibility

• You are low down in the water, and not very visible.
• Enhance your visibility by wearing bright clothes that contrast with the background.
• You can also enhance the glint off your paddle by applying a light coat of liquid floor wax to both sides of the blade. This increases the shine and reflectivity.

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Visibility

• Paddle Flash
• Motion
• Clothing

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Closing Distance

• At one quarter of a mile—the distance a boater is apt to first see a paddler, the reaction time is proportional to speed.

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¼ Mile

Response times:

@60 mph—15 seconds

@45 mph—20 seconds

@30 mph—30 seconds

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Traffic Rules Video

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On the Water

Boarding, Exiting and Moving About

• Don your life jacket before boarding and keep it on!
• Maintain at least 3 points of contact when boarding, exiting, or moving about the boat
• Avoid sudden movements in the boat
• Avoid switching positions
• Keep weight low, move slowly along the centerline and maintain a low center of gravity to reduce the risk of capsize

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Paddling

• Paddling in groups of three or more is generally safer
• Do not use drugs or alcohol while on the water
• Boat politely – look out for yourself and everyone else on the water
• Boat conservatively – stay within your skill level
• Hands-on instruction makes paddling safer and more fun

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Other Activities

• Anglers and hunters should be extra vigilant about weight shifts, appropriate equipment, and lifejacket use
• Animals should use properly fitted lifejackets
• Anticipate sudden movements from animals in boats

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What if I Flip Video

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Avoid Problems

• The best rescue is the one that is prevented

Weather Related

• Check water and weather conditions, and be flexible
• If bad weather conditions are forecast, wait for better conditions
• Use knowledge, skills, abilities and equipment to avoid problems, and to reduce the impact of problems that happen

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Avoid Problems

Human Induced

• Consider the effect of medications
• some medications may affect your judgment or make you drowsy
• others may increase your sensitivity to sunburn or dehydration
• Avoid Alcohol and Drugs
• they have no place on the water

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Alcohol Use

• Alcohol use on the water has a multiplier effect—one drink afloat on a hot day is the equivalent of three ashore.
• The rule of thumb is no more than one per hour and no more than three per day--ashore.
• The best bet, save the cold one for after the outing.

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Emergencies Video

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Manage Problems

Accidents and Illness

• Capsizing and falls overboard are part of paddling
• Conditions that can lead to hypothermia (low body temp) are common when paddling
• Hypothermic paddlers may be unable to help themselves.
• Good judgment is one of the first things lost in hypothermia.

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Cold Water / Hypothermia

Four Stages of Cold Water Immersion

• Stage 1: Initial cold shock- Gasping
• Stage 2: Swim Failure - Numbness
• Stage 3: Hypothermia – Body Core Temp Drops Below 95 Degrees
• Stage 4: Post-immersion collapse

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How would wearing a PFD make a difference?

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1 – 10 – 1 Rule

• 1 minute – get breathing under control
• 10 minutes – meaningful activity such as self rescue or signaling
• 1 hour or more – slowing heat loss to extend consciousness and survival time

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Surviving Cold Water Immersion

• Make sure lifejackets are already on
• Remain calm and still in water
• If possible stay with boat
• Do not swim to shore
• Keep clothes on

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Heat Escape Lessening Position

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Reduces exposure of high �heat loss areas of body

Huddle

• Reduces body heat loss
• Provides moral support
• Increases visibility

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Manage Problems

• Conditions that can lead to hyperthermia (high body temp) and dehydration are common when paddling

Boaters depend on each other

• Learn how to help other boaters and make sure you have appropriate rescue knowledge, skills and equipment
• Practice your self and team rescues--regularly

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After the Problem

After the Problem

• Accident reports are required
• anytime a fatality occurs,
• a person has to go to the hospital,
• the boat is lost, or
• significant property damage occurs
• Accident reports
• Made to the State of Alaska Office of Boating Safety within 48 hrs of injury, death, or disappearance, or 10 days of damage
• Available on ACA and USCG apps or Office of Boating Safety website

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After Your Trip

After Your Trip

• Had fun?

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• Plan to do it again?

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• Keep learning

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• Check in when you return
• Clean, repair and protect your gear

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The American Canoe Association and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary signed a Memorandum of Agreement in 2011 to promote safety among those who use kayaks, canoes and other paddle craft.

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