User Tools
stories:rescue_ill_prepared_paddler_2007
Differences
This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.
| Both sides previous revision Previous revision Next revision | Previous revision | ||
|
stories:rescue_ill_prepared_paddler_2007 [2020/03/21 02:13] preavley |
stories:rescue_ill_prepared_paddler_2007 [2025/03/23 22:11] (current) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| - | ==== rescue of ill prepared wave ski kayaker today ==== | + | << stories:kayak_sailing_2007|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List ^ stories:heather_untethered|Next Story>> |
| + | |||
| + | ===== Rescue of ill Prepared Wave Ski Kayaker Today ===== | ||
| **kathleen petereit** \\ | **kathleen petereit** \\ | ||
| Line 8: | Line 10: | ||
| We spotted a blue kayak in the distance that seemed to go airborne a couple of times and Nathan said let's go play with that guy over there, looks like he's having a blast in those waves. As we got closer we could see he was trying desperately to get in his boat ( one of those short plastic wave sit in kayaks ). He had managed to get to a reef about 40 yards offshore and was waist deep standing on the reef. His kayak was full of water and submerged now. It had a bailing pump inside but he was too cold to function properly to use it. He had on a paddling jacket and dry suit pants and was wet to the core…and no lifejacket. His paddle had drifted away.\\ | We spotted a blue kayak in the distance that seemed to go airborne a couple of times and Nathan said let's go play with that guy over there, looks like he's having a blast in those waves. As we got closer we could see he was trying desperately to get in his boat ( one of those short plastic wave sit in kayaks ). He had managed to get to a reef about 40 yards offshore and was waist deep standing on the reef. His kayak was full of water and submerged now. It had a bailing pump inside but he was too cold to function properly to use it. He had on a paddling jacket and dry suit pants and was wet to the core…and no lifejacket. His paddle had drifted away.\\ | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | He all of a sudden got panicked and begged me to let him get on the back of my ski. He was so cold and motor function had dimished drastically. He could not even swim from the front of my ski to the back to hang on. So I had turn around in the waves and back up, not an easy feat. I hung my legs over the side for balance. I thought if all else fails I can get off and swim him in to shore, I had my drysuit on and knew I could swim this distance comfortably as I had done it practising 2 weeks ago.\\ | + | He all of a sudden got panicked and begged me to let him get on the back of my ski. He was so cold and motor function had diminished drastically. He could not even swim from the front of my ski to the back to hang on. So I had turn around in the waves and back up, not an easy feat. I hung my legs over the side for balance. I thought if all else fails I can get off and swim him in to shore, I had my drysuit on and knew I could swim this distance comfortably as I had done it practising 2 weeks ago.\\ |
| \\ | \\ | ||
| He got on the back and lay on my deck with his feet over the stern. This was really hard work and we seemed to inch along. I still had my legs over the side for balance. Nathan managed to get the rope this guy had on his kayak and tied it around his thigh and towed his kayak in.\\ | He got on the back and lay on my deck with his feet over the stern. This was really hard work and we seemed to inch along. I still had my legs over the side for balance. Nathan managed to get the rope this guy had on his kayak and tied it around his thigh and towed his kayak in.\\ | ||
| Line 23: | Line 25: | ||
| Kathleen, thank you so much. I can't remember who it was that told me about the habitual way people respond to emergencies…. like the passengers on an aircraft that desperately try to get to their bag or attache before using the emergency chute, or the people that turn off the lights as they run out of a burning house. EMTs have countless stories about the blind, habitual responses people have to emergency situations. Most people don't have the time or presence of mind to think through an effective response… and those that do generally have experience and/or training. | Kathleen, thank you so much. I can't remember who it was that told me about the habitual way people respond to emergencies…. like the passengers on an aircraft that desperately try to get to their bag or attache before using the emergency chute, or the people that turn off the lights as they run out of a burning house. EMTs have countless stories about the blind, habitual responses people have to emergency situations. Most people don't have the time or presence of mind to think through an effective response… and those that do generally have experience and/or training. | ||
| - | //**As of March 2020 the photos mentioned by Brandon below are still viewable in a Whatcom Paddlers Folder "Rescue Stuff", but the descriptions should still draw pictures for you:** // | + | ==== Deck Rescue Technique ==== |
| **Pictures of Deck Rescue** \\ | **Pictures of Deck Rescue** \\ | ||
| Line 34: | Line 36: | ||
| The first picture, below, shows how NOT to ride on someone’s back deck. Notice my head (a very heavy part of the body) is up, greatly diminishing the boats stability. And since Heather has her legs out, she has no steerage and forward speed is minimal. | The first picture, below, shows how NOT to ride on someone’s back deck. Notice my head (a very heavy part of the body) is up, greatly diminishing the boats stability. And since Heather has her legs out, she has no steerage and forward speed is minimal. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{:rescue:brandon:don_t_do_this_weight_high.jpg?direct&200x134|don_t_do_this_weight_high.jpg}}<font inherit/inherit;;#ffffff;;inherit>…..</font>Weight here is still higher than necessary or helpful | ||
| In the next picture, I’ve dropped my head so my face is on the deck, creating a notably more stable condition. My own lower legs are still in the water adding an “outrigger” effect, and Heather’s legs are in and able to steer. Speed was WAY better, and we could definitely get somewhere like this. | In the next picture, I’ve dropped my head so my face is on the deck, creating a notably more stable condition. My own lower legs are still in the water adding an “outrigger” effect, and Heather’s legs are in and able to steer. Speed was WAY better, and we could definitely get somewhere like this. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{:rescue:brandon:do_this_weight_low.jpg?direct&200x134|do_this_weight_low.jpg}}<font inherit/inherit;;#ffffff;;inherit>…..</font>Weight here kept really low with legs still in water for extra stability | ||
| There is also technique involved in just getting the swimmer on the deck. To do this, the swimmer is just behind the cockpit ready to climb over the side. The paddler would ideally have her legs in the water for stability, and braces and leans TOWARD the swimmer. This lowers edge (gunwale) of the ski creating more of a “ramp” for the swimmer, as well as enhancing stability much more so than if leaning away from the swimmer. The swimmer stays in a low, laying-down position and slides onto the deck belly first, as if doing a cowboy re-entry. Once on the deck, the swimmer inches up towards the paddler until he can hold on around her waist. The tasks of both the paddler and swimmer require a certain grace and, obviously, practicing both positions will exponentially enhance survivability. What’s so impressive about Kathleen’s rescue is that she was dealing with a complete stranger – athlete or not. | There is also technique involved in just getting the swimmer on the deck. To do this, the swimmer is just behind the cockpit ready to climb over the side. The paddler would ideally have her legs in the water for stability, and braces and leans TOWARD the swimmer. This lowers edge (gunwale) of the ski creating more of a “ramp” for the swimmer, as well as enhancing stability much more so than if leaning away from the swimmer. The swimmer stays in a low, laying-down position and slides onto the deck belly first, as if doing a cowboy re-entry. Once on the deck, the swimmer inches up towards the paddler until he can hold on around her waist. The tasks of both the paddler and swimmer require a certain grace and, obviously, practicing both positions will exponentially enhance survivability. What’s so impressive about Kathleen’s rescue is that she was dealing with a complete stranger – athlete or not. | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{:rescue:brandon:staging_for_swimmer_to_climb_on.jpg?direct&200x134|staging_for_swimmer_to_climb_on.jpg}} {{:rescue:brandon:swimmer_halfway_on_the_back_deck.jpg?direct&200x134|swimmer_halfway_on_the_back_deck.jpg}} {{:rescue:brandon:arrange_for_low_center_of_vessel.jpg?direct&200x134|arrange_for_low_center_of_vessel.jpg}} | ||
| Part of our DPD practice session was also to see if a 5’6” paddler could effectively “rescue” a 6’6”, 250 pound “swimmer.” As the pictures show, it was entirely do-able. | Part of our DPD practice session was also to see if a 5’6” paddler could effectively “rescue” a 6’6”, 250 pound “swimmer.” As the pictures show, it was entirely do-able. | ||
| Line 45: | Line 53: | ||
| Brandon Nelson | Brandon Nelson | ||
| - | **Desk rescue and personal safety\\ | + | ==== Deck Rescue and Personal Safety ==== |
| - | Morris Arthur <marthur@…>** \\ | + | |
| + | **Morris Arthur <marthur@…>** \\ | ||
| 12/23/07 #3928 | 12/23/07 #3928 | ||
| - | I'd think twice about allowing a stranger to grab on to my ski in cold, rough seas.\\ | + | I'd think twice about allowing a stranger to grab on to my ski in cold, rough seas. That's what the VHF is for: so you can call in qualified help for folks who need it. |
| - | That's what the VHF is for: so you can call in qualified help for folks who need it. | + | |
| Now… a paddling buddy with known skills is different. Perhaps, I'd simply call the CG and inform them that I'm about to assist a paddler without a boat. I guess it depends on the situation…. | Now… a paddling buddy with known skills is different. Perhaps, I'd simply call the CG and inform them that I'm about to assist a paddler without a boat. I guess it depends on the situation…. | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Re: Desk rescue and personal safety (PANIC)\\ | + | **Re: Deck rescue and personal safety (PANIC)\\ |
| Reivers Dustin** \\ | Reivers Dustin** \\ | ||
| 12/23/07 #3930 | 12/23/07 #3930 | ||
| - | This is a big deal here. In one of our recondo training water\\ | + | This is a big deal here. In one of our recondo training water exersizes one of our guys freaked out. I was next to him and didn't really notice a thing. The training seargent's were on the bullhorn yelling "Get away from that man!" over and over. Finally I realized they were yelling at me. I looked at the guy. His eyes were the clue: my body in the water looked like something to stand on to him. There was no intelligence. I dove under and swam like hell. |
| - | exersizes one of our guys freaked out. I was next to him and didn't\\ | + | |
| - | really notice a thing. The training seargent's were on the bullhorn\\ | + | |
| - | yelling "Get away from that man!" over and over. Finally I realized\\ | + | |
| - | they were yelling at me. I looked at the guy. His eyes were the\\ | + | |
| - | clue: my body in the water looked like something to stand on to him.\\ | + | |
| - | There was no intelligence. I dove under and swam like hell. | + | |
| - | Make sure you have some kind of rapport before compromising\\ | + | Make sure you have some kind of rapport before compromising yourself. |
| - | yourself. | + | |
| rd | rd | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Re: Desk rescue and personal safety\\ | + | **Re: Deck rescue and personal safety\\ |
| kathleen petereit** \\ | kathleen petereit** \\ | ||
| 12/23/07 #3931 | 12/23/07 #3931 | ||
| Line 79: | Line 80: | ||
| Morris, | Morris, | ||
| - | If we would have been further away I would have called the CG. I don't\\ | + | If we would have been further away I would have called the CG. I don't think he would have lasted till they got there. I knew if he dumped me I would be ok with my drysuit on and the distance we were from shore. That's why you need to practise and know your limits. |
| - | think he would have lasted till they got there. I knew if he dumped me\\ | + | |
| - | I would be ok with my drysuit on and the distance we were from shore.\\ | + | |
| - | That's why you need to practise and know your limits. | + | |
| Kathleen\\ | Kathleen\\ | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Re: Desk rescue and personal safety (Panic)\\ | + | **Re: Deck rescue and personal safety (Panic)\\ |
| Michael Hammer <michaelhammer62@…>** \\ | Michael Hammer <michaelhammer62@…>** \\ | ||
| 12/24/07 #3936 | 12/24/07 #3936 | ||
| Line 97: | Line 95: | ||
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | **Re: Desk rescue and personal safety\\ | + | **Re: Deck rescue and personal safety\\ |
| piddlertom** \\ | piddlertom** \\ | ||
| 12/24/07 #3938 | 12/24/07 #3938 | ||
| - | Good call Morris. Thats the first rule in rescue: NEVER turn a one\\ | + | Good call Morris. Thats the first rule in rescue: NEVER turn a one victim scenario into a two victim scenario. Approach the panicked swimmer with great caution, ESPECIALLY when paddling a ski in "conditions".\\ |
| - | victim scenario into a two victim scenario. Approach the panicked\\ | + | |
| - | swimmer with great caution, ESPECIALLY when paddling a ski\\ | + | |
| - | in "conditions".\\ | + | |
| Tom L. | Tom L. | ||
Except where otherwise noted, content on this wiki is licensed under the following license: CC Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International
