Wear It! Life Jacket/PFD Safety

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 81 percent of boating fatalities were the result of drowning. Of those 83 percent were not wearing life jackets or Personal Flotation Devices (PFD).   Paddlers are a part of that number.  They also state that 4 out of 5 boating fatalities could have been prevented by wearing a life jacket. I could spend all day talking about this topic. Chances are most of you already know the potential consequences of not wearing a PFD and choose to wear one as there is no reason to take that extra risk.

Still, let’s go ahead and lay out some statistics. First off, what is drowning? Drowning is a form of death by suffocation. Death occurs after the lungs take in water. This water intake then interferes with breathing. The lungs become heavy and oxygen stops being delivered to the heart. Without the supply of oxygen, the body shuts down.

How long does this take? Drowning can take only a couple of seconds to occur but usually takes up around 30 seconds to a couple minutes. The average person can hold their breath for around 30 seconds (if they expect to fall in the water. In cold water they instantly take in water as they involuntarily gasp upon falling in the water). For children, the length is even shorter. A person who’s in excellent health and has training for underwater emergencies can still usually hold their breath for only 2 minutes.

How deep does a river or lake have to be to drown in? Well anyone with kids knows we don’t leave children unattended around any water as they can drown in as little as a couple inches.  According to “Investigation of Drowning Deaths: A Practical Review” a person can drown in 1 milliliter of fluid for every kilogram they weigh. So, a person weighing around 140 pounds (63.5 kg) could drown after inhaling only a quarter cup of water.

These are facts and statistics from safety organizations and doctors. How does all this affect me as a paddler or me as a trip coordinator? Cue the stance from the Carolina Canoe Club (CCC).  We all paddle as common adventurers and there is no trip leader so we cannot tell a person they cannot paddle with us because they refuse to wear a life jacket right? NO that’s not right! As a trip coordinator, participant, or a group you have the right to say you will not allow a person who refused to wear a life jacket (or displays any unsafe act for that matter) to paddle with you.

Our trip is not a “Club” trip! It may not be a “club” trip as in a sanctioned Carolina Canoe Club event but it is still a club associated trip if it is posted about before, during, or after the trip and members of CCC are present. As we had similar conversations in the past, the CCC is in no way legally connected to most trips but we are still associated with those trips if they are posted and advertised on our webpage and social media.

It’s so shallow they could walk! How much water does it take to drown? (if you forgot, see above studies). Remember that in cold water this is even more important because of the cold water gasp reflex.

Remember that the person who refuses to wear a life jacket for your trip is the same person that will not wear one on other trips and is the one who is at high risk and will now be associated with you as you let them on your trip. That person will also continue to push any “rules” as they now know you will not enforce any rules or regulations.

The CCC promotes safety and that importantly includes wearing a life jacket/PFD every time we get on the water. EVERY time! As an organization we do NOT condone unsafe behavior such as not wearing a life jacket while paddling. The CCC is also a Paddle America Club within the American Canoe Association (ACA) and with that designation we agree to follow the safety standards of the ACA which includes wearing a life jacket at all times.  This is seen at the beginning of every single course curriculum offered from ACA. This can also be found all across our website from the Safety Page to the Trips Page. We also mention in numerous spots that we adhere to the American Whitewater Safety Code in which the second sentence is Wear a Life Jacket.

Lastly, if you doubt the CCC stance on this topic, try posting a picture of any paddler not wearing a life jacket either on the webpage or Facebook page and see what happens to the picture. If you still have concerns or questions about this topic please get with me and I will gladly host a free class on Safety and Rescue and the importance of this one piece of equipment!

Thank you
William Holman
Safety Chair
River Safety and Rescue Instructor