Kayak safety dayWhen you buy a car you get an "Owner Manual" with it. It provides information on features, service, maintenance and even driving the vehicle. For example, and I quote: "This part of the manual tells you how to use safety belts properly. It also tells you some things you should not do with safety belts."
What do you get when you buy a sea kayak? Yup - nothing. Nothing to inform the novice kayaker about what safety gear is required by the regulatory authority, nothing to direct the novice kayaker to skills that must be acquired, nothing to warn the novice kayaker about some of the dangers such as hypothermia.
Mind boggling isn't it? And then we shake our heads when we hear of kayak mishaps when they are broadcast by the media.
Kayak Newfoundland and Labrador is holding a kayak safety day today. With some luck we'll address some of the information gaps novice paddlers begin with. But it shouldn't fall to kayak clubs, should it?
We couldn't agree more. Great post! It is great that people do put on these events to bring attention to safety but it would be nice to see kayaks come with a manual of some type.
ReplyDeleteAn after thought - a short DVD to watch for people who won't read the manual anyway!
ReplyDeleteTony :-)