In my early to mid-teens, I was a frequent “drowning test dummy” for the local swim club and at a local Y.
It was a huge amount of fun and my instructions were to do anything I wanted to prevent the trainees from being able to complete the task.
Having played a number of wind instruments, my breath control was significant and was a reasonable good swimmer with long arms— so almost the perfect “dummy”.
Simple kayaker, please feel free to stay on your soap box as long as you like…that’s kind of the point of the original thread, just to share sobering experiences. For me this was the second time that someone died in the same place that I had just been paddling. It’s a sobering reminder about unforeseen dangers on the water…so a gift really.
Yooper and Celia, I was in quite good shape in college and I think that may be why my teacher close me to set an example. He was bigger and stronger than me. I came up behind him but he swam after me, wrapped his arms around me and squeezed (like all out bear hug) and literally took me to the bottom of the pool. It was a good lesson but it was not fun.
I never ever drink when paddling just as I never had a drink when motorcycling. I usually bring a flotation cushion (for padding/comfort or emergencies) in addition to wearing my PFD.
and never swim after dark… Someone got run over by a boat on Damariscotta Lake… The boater tried to save the swimmer. Swimming after dark; you are invisible.
My Senior Life Saving instructor was a monster but didn’t sneak up on me. As soon as I had the cross chest hold on him, the battle was on, mostly under water.
Back then I was a bit of a monster too. The primary instructor stopped the battle. I’ve never had to rescue anyone, but if a muscular jock gets in trouble, I hope someone else is there to help.
Thanks TomL. Rescues are sobering events. for 3 summers I was lifeguard at public pool and at a beach (beach was a fill in for only 2 months). But I have performed CPR multiple times. I have won and lost. Those lost were both heart attacks. Not to mention sailing and canoeing. Kayaks are new to me but affords me a way to be on the water. Maybe in???
BTW even older folks can take swim lessons and life saving. I encourage all that are able to do so.
I once took a SCUBA Rescue Diver course with a buddy. It took place off the beach in moderate surf.
Afterwards we both thought it would be easier to find a new buddy than to save the old one.
@kayamedic said:
and never swim after dark… Someone got run over by a boat on Damariscotta Lake… The boater tried to save the swimmer. Swimming after dark; you are invisible.
Except to the gators and sharks, who hunt at night.
@Overstreet said:
@kayamedic said:
and never swim after dark… Someone got run over by a boat on Damariscotta Lake… The boater tried to save the swimmer. Swimming after dark; you are invisible.Except to the gators and sharks, who hunt at night.
yes… They are horrible here in the freshwater lakes of Maine
Global warming is bringing them your way.
@string said:
Global warming is bringing them your way.
In the ocean the great whites are waiting for PaddleDog52
Hmmm. Thread has somehow evolved to salt water predators, global warming, fudge, and people that talk funny.
Fudge is like stale frosting that wasn’t even good when it was fresh.
Regarding water safety, the pic below is Silver Beach on Lake Michigan this morning…before the big crowds arrive (90 degree day + vacation town = tourists). As you drive in to the beach parking lot there’s a big sign that says NO SWIMMING DANGEROUS CURRENTS. And there are about a dozen folks swimming…mostly kids. No lifeguards on duty. 13 drownings in Lake Michigan so far this year. 41 last year.
I was a lifeguard at a pool one summer but the open water stuff is a whole different ballgame!
How about a sign that says “Body recovery costs to be paid by your estate or next of kin”?
My cousin’s husband and 13 year old son were both drowned at Pentwater Beach 25 years ago this month (2 hours north of Silver Beach). They were locals and experienced surf swimmers, but they went out body-surfing on one of those same beautiful blue sky windy days when a squall blew in out of nowhere and turned the lake into a churning cauldron. Apparently the son was swept out by the rip current and when his dad tried to reach him he too was caught by the waves and then bashed against the channel breakwater. It was several days before the son’s body was recovered offshore…
Alas, people ignore signage.
Of those 13 Lake Michigan drownings to date, only one was a kayaker who had been drinking and of course not wearing a PFD let alone dressed for immersion in the 50F water. Maybe all the media warnings up here about the importance of a PFD are working, at least for paddlers. But the summer isn’t over…
Five foot waves, people went swimming and died.
https://fox17online.com/2018/08/05/city-beach-pier-closed-in-grand-haven/
The waves are different up there. One thing I noticed at Pictured Rocks was the waves were at 3 seconds. That’s steeper and closer together than ocean waves here. But tourists and rip currents never seem to work out.
@Overstreet said:
The waves are different up there. One thing I noticed at Pictured Rocks was the waves were at 3 seconds. That’s steeper and closer together than ocean waves here.
This is normal for Great Lakes waves. The concept of “swell” is all but unheard of. It can make for conditions that are, arguably, more challenging than many ocean areas.
Yes, very short duration waves on the Great Lakes. Today buoy 45022 is reporting 1.6 ft at four seconds. Before launching I’ll watch them for a while to see if there’s a pattern. In many cases there is and I can get out on the smaller ones.
Am guessing that ocean waves must be fun to play in.
