A misconception that…
every contingency can be accounted for and that a PFD is the answer for all of them. In the cases of a medical event or unconsciousness a PFD may not be enough to save a life.
People…
– Last Updated: Aug-15-13 12:07 PM EST –
People need to make well reasoned decisions.
There are natural consequences for those who have poor decision making skills.
Based on my training, and experience; I would not hesitate to say that anyone (no matter what their level of training), who makes the decision to venture into deep water, to attempt to rescue a non pfd wearing drunk, is making a very poor decision.
I will continue to do what I have done in the past; attempt to make a well reason decision, on a case by case basis, when dealing with non pfd wearing drunks.
Throwing some type of material that will assist in keeping the victim afloat is of little risk to a potential rescuer. Throwing a throw rope to a drunk, and attempting to haul them to safety, seldom presents any risk to the rescuer, but there are some factors that need to be considered.
ANY rescue requiring a potential rescuer to swim to the victim, make physical contact with them, and get them to safety present risk to a potential rescuer. If the victim is not wearing a pfd, the risk increases. If the victim is drunk, the risk dramatically increases.
Rescuers need to use good decision making skills; their life may depend on it.
Don't "bite off more than you can chew".
BOB
P.S. It never ceases to amaze me when I see a person who is most definitely in need of help, and both sides of the river is lined with people hollering, "Somebody needs to help them! Typically those hollering the loudest never get their feet wet? On occasion, those doing the hollering are companions of the person in need.
can’t dispute that, BUT
even if safety equipment can’t prevent ALL possible catastrophes, it certainly mitigates many preventable ones. People even die in car crashes wearing seat belts – does that justify not using one? I have worked most of my career in the construction industry, where use of personal safety equipment is stringently enforced. You can lose your job for not using it so I am doubly indoctrinated and habituated to making it always part of my activities.
The “freedom” arguments I hear motorcycle riders use to object to mandatory helmet laws fall flat in the face of statistics that prove that the majority of the financial burden for medical treatment, rehab and disability support for people with head injuries due to motorcycle accidents falls overwhelmingly on the public health care system. The State DOES have a vested interest in requiring riders to protect their skulls. Nothing similar for paddling sports that I know of other than restrictions on some whitewater stretches.
fair enough
I get that you are saying that you would still try to help them, but that you won’t put your life at risk to do so. I agree that someone in panic-mode without a PFD, and drunk to top it all off, is very dangerous indeed. Just like a drowning person will drag down their would-be rescuer in their panic. I might have misinterpreted your first post.
Usually wear it
For now I am one of those people who float and am just as bouyant with or without my pfd. However it is the law and it is a good place to attach my waterproof phone in case of emergencies.
Yes, I work manufacturing
and I too am so use to PPE that I even have it all at home. I wear my steel toe shoes when I mow the lawn. Hearing and eye protection when I weedwack or use the table saw. I even wore hearing protection when I rode the motorcycle, underneath the full face helmet, after the law was revoked and I didn’t have to.
Again on the motorcycle helmet analogy. When I first got my bike, I was nervous with a truck riding my rear tire and was turning into a side road. There was fine sand on the road and my front tire locked up. Bike slid slowly into the guardrail and I more tumbled onto the ground rather than an actual fall. It was a slow easy tumble with me rolling onto my shoulder, nothing injured or hurt at all, but my helmet with my head in it did thump onto the ground. It thumped pretty hard and on my 3rd motorcycle ride I thought, that would have hurt pretty bad without the helmet.
My mother’s neighbor was out tossing a ball with his young grandkid. The kid tossed it a little high, he jumped a little, his foot slipped and he tumbled down. Just a little tumble in the yard, only his head bumped onto the paved driveway. No big deal, he felt fine. Dropped like a bag of rocks in the kitchen 2 days later dead from that.
Even the simplest thing can kill you. Seems to me like something as innocent as tossing a ball with your grandkid is like paddling on a calm lake or pond. You never know. I don’t paddle now, but I will be wearing a PFD any time I’m on the water maybe next year.
Again, this has been an excellent discussion. It has a bit of “you should wear…” but the discussion is good. Like others have said though going back to why I started this, perhaps I just didn’t see the folks stuffing the PFD under the deck at their feet. The only ones I saw coming back were the pontoon boats which I believe have PFD’s stored on them and only the kids’ PFD’s were being tossed back into the bin. Also again, the only ones I saw were type II around the neck and I still want to get out to rent and try out kayaking around the lake, but not if that is all is available. If I knew for sure I’d have the funds this coming spring, I’d just get me a good fitting PFD now and do some renting before the cold comes.
your main worry
Should be your sarcasm awareness. The feral cow comment is the give away. Heat stroke is always a possibility, your pfd is only marginally increasing that chance, if at all.
Ryan L.
Actually, you didn’t get mine.
– Last Updated: Aug-15-13 4:18 PM EST –
But whatever. So wrapping your chest and back in foam only has a "marginal" chance of making you too hot when the temps are in the hundreds, huh? To each his own. Maybe you are naturally cold and dress like an Eskimo when the temperature drops into the 50s.
Where is it the law ???
– Last Updated: Aug-16-13 6:32 AM EST –
I go by the Coast Guard rules
Jack L
NY state
– Last Updated: Aug-15-13 7:38 PM EST –
From November 15 to April 15, I believe. Not sure of the actual months because it does not apply to me... I ALWAYS wear a PFD. But it definitely is required by law. Not to save your life, but to make recovering your dead ass less time consuming and expensive. And easier on the survivors... you don't get knawed on by the fishies while your sorry ass sits on the bottom, waiting for the gasses to form to float you to the surface, which takes a bit longer in cold water.
I would recommend wearing a PDF
Especially while riding a motorcycle. It could minimize the chance of your picture being downloaded by an 18 wheeler.
Snow skiing + Helmet
You surely have not skied in a while. Snow skiing has followed the same trajectory as road cycling for helmet wear, albeit about a decade later. 15 years ago or so you saw almost no one at all skiing under a helmet. Now I’d say more than 80 (90?) percent have helmets on.
Nice description !
Yours might be “sorry”, but during those months while yours is “sorry” from being so cold, mine is nice and warm while I’m playing in the nice warm waters of the Florida Keys - normally with out wearing a PFD, unless conditions are rough.
Jack L
It’s the law in PA too
– Last Updated: Aug-16-13 8:01 AM EST –
Dear Jack,
From November to April a PFD must be worn in all boats under 16' in length and all canoes and kayaks while on PA waters. Why you need one in a boat that is 15'11" long and not one that is 16'1" long is beyond me, but that is the law.
A PFD also must be worn when fishing from a float tube or belly boat at all times on all waters under the control of the PA Fish and Boat Commission. There are numerous ponds on PA State Gamelands that are not under the control of the PA F&BC. No PFD's needed on those waters.
If you want to wear a PFD be my guest, but I'd rather not wear one. They are much too restrictive while fishing and that is my activity of choice for 99 percent of the time I am on the water. Boats, canoes, and float tubes to me are just tools that are used like a fishing rod.
None of them are hazardous when used with forethought and discretion but rules must be written to protect the idiots first and foremost. All people are then sentenced to suffer those consequences.
I'm so tired of the Nanny State school of thought and legislation but it will not change any in my lifetime.
Regards,
Tim Murphy AKA Goobs