Canoe Safety
During the times that we are in the mood for a little boating at summer camp there was always one tool for transportation that almost never let us down. We are very much familiar with it because of all the time we tried to earn that scout badge for rowing it the best. This little banana shaped contraption has also saved countless lives in and out of the river when there were emergencies. What am I talking about? I’m talking about the canoe or the kayak. Whatever you call it you can say that it has come a long way.
But before you indulge into this tempting sport, make sure that you pay attention to one thing that matters most—safety. Safety is one of the most important things to remember in any aspect of life. We never know when we will get in an accident. And the most number of fatal accidents actually happen inside the house, but it still doesn’t discount the possibility of getting into one in our everyday affairs. Being in the wilderness, we should take extra precaution because there may be no one to help you when you get into a bind.
When on a trip, especially one that involves activities that are especially dangerous, we should always be aware of our own movements, surroundings, and other people. When on a canoe trip be reminded that safety always comes first. Safety is actually the most important part and the most important consideration of planning any trip. You can’t have a enjoyable time when there is someone that is injured. The leader of the trip and other organizers should always be ready for emergencies of any kind, be it on land or water.
The group should know where the stream is heading in relation to the surrounding towns, locations of the nearest telephones and the site for medical assistance that is most accessible to them. And most importantly, the group should know the stream itself, it wouldn’t hurt if the group knew the stream exactly and every hazard that it presents.
When the day of the trip comes, one of the organizers or the leader of the canoeists himself needs to check the stream level and the strength of the current. They should also check the local weather report to know what kind of weather they will be expecting. They should also take their time in discussing safety techniques and the appearance of potential hazards with all canoeists being present so everyone will know exactly how to react when the danger presents itself to the group. Safety techniques are simple and basic, but it is quite important especially to larger groups where they tend to act individually when faced with danger.
Some of the safety reminders that a canoeist should know:
- Never go to the stream and try to canoe alone, this is because there is no one to inform the local authorities of your condition just in case you get into trouble.
- Stay away from streams that are flooded and have unpredictable current strengths, these streams are too dangerous even for Olympians.
- Always wear a life jacket when out in the stream, it can literally save your life.
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