Posted by Mike Bouley
on 4/21/2009, 5:06 pm
66.189.127.74
Saturday's trip on the Pawtuxet was a wake up call for leaders to check all PFDs before launching. PFDs that inflate on immersion or with a pull handle are meant for open water, not moving rivers with sticks that could puncture this type of vest. The person who went swimming Saturday was paddling without having his PFD securely buckled and this could have been much worsse than a few small cuts and a change of clothes. Also, leaders should be mindful that not all those on a trip are capable of handling strainers and other obstacles in moving water and the group should be split up or just don't proceed past a point where the skill levels don't meet the conditions. While I appreciate the photos of "helping out" other paddlers, given a choice I'd rather not have had to do so. All in all it was good practice but let's not be afraid to overthink the safety factors.
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