Well it appears that I am force into this opinon subject.
These things can be good and they can be bad, they might save you and they might kill you, I believe it depends on the existing situations at the time.
Some years back there were 3 of us in a canoe (which was one too many for that river) on the Snake River in Wyoming, we got dumped and fortunately we all had PFD/Lifejackets on. They were "approved" by somebody. TJ & Mrs.G fortunately had good fitting ones which kept them afloat and also high in the water. I had a poor fitting one which floated above me in the water, I had to reach up and pull it down over me so I could breath (breathing is important). Being in the USA, these were not US Coast Guard Approved SO the Park Warden was not impressed BUT they did save our lives.
Yesterday while playing around in a Kayak I wore a PFD commplete with a whistle, which I am told is manditory, while standing up (just for fun) I of course fell out,
by the time I turned around the wind had the Kayak moving away from me, the PFD would not let me swim to the Kayak even though I still had the paddle and was using it to paddle me with. This event was just a lark cause I was being blown toward shore and John was in the row boat and came to my rescue.
Suppose I had been far from shore on cold water and actually got dumped, things would have been much different, I could not swim the first few strokes to the grab the Kayak and may have been out of luck unless somebody happened to see me. You now say well you could not get back in the Kayak when you caught it which is true but I possibly could drift with the Kayak. If you wish to carry on with what ifs, be my guest.
It is also required that you have a PFD while board sailing, If you have ever been caught under a sail and had to swim down and away to get out, then you know how stupid having a PFD on would be, They don,t let you swim down.
Rigid laws in my humbled opinion are stupid laws by stupid people. A good example is, take every persons GUNS so that idenifyable minorities will stop killing each other, but that's another story.
The good thing about PFD/Lifejackets is that it makes it easier to recover the body.
If there is anybody who disagrees with me, please note that I have mistletoe pinned to my coattail.
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8 comments:
THAT'S MY DAD....
But for arguement sake, if you hadn't been standing in the kayak you wouldn't have gotten dumped overboard. And seeing you wouldn't play the game right and let me catch you while trying to swim with MY PFD on it looks good on you.
Your final comment is the BEST....I'm sitting here LMAO. Please may I use that line?
Instruction in the use of PFDs (personal floatation device) has been part of my work environment since 1993, so I feel particularly well informed and can comment on this subject.
First let me say that a "lifejacket" is a thing of the past, there is no such thing in Canada. All PFDs in use in Canada must be Transport Canada approved. (I believe the name was changed to PFD to avoid the obvious lawsuits when it doesn't save your life.)
The only lifejacket that is going to SAVE your life is a "keyhole" style. PERIOD!
A keyhole lifejacket will turn over an unconscious person. (note from my blog the photo of Ireland wearing the new "cool" design of a keyhole for babies. http://bp2.blogger.com/_uE7cNg4idx4/SIHwiuwBEaI/AAAAAAAAB_s/jI85fkfEpdw/s1600-h/17-07-2008+-+swimming+at+the+INN+with+granny+%2828%29.jpg)
Unfortunately, people find this style uncomfortable. They don't like it and won't wear it. Thus the keyhole lifejacket is left sitting in the boathouse or the bottom of the boat while the lovely family drowns.
The question then becomes how to make a device that is comfortable and "cool" enough for people to actually wear.
A PFD will not turn you over if you are unconscious. Also if you are not comfortable swimming in a PFD you are less likely to survive because you will be fighting the buoyancy of it while you drown.
All that a PFD will do is hold your body afloat. If you a trained in how to use one and you are conscious it can hold you afloat until you are hopefully rescued. If you are not trained in how to use one then it is likely turn you face down (due to the large amount of flotation in the back) and assist the rescuer in finding your body.
That is of course if it is yellow, orange or red. If it is blue or green as are now approved in Canada in a further attempt to get people to wear them then you will blend in nicely in with the water and foliage surrounding the lake thus delaying the retrieval of your slowly bloating, body.
The message I would send out to people is buy one you like, make sure that you are comfortable swimming in the water with it. Practice falling in from different positions (especially if you are an uncomfortable swimmer). Wear it all the time in the boat (I confess I don't), don't drink and boat, boat in bad weather or with an inexperienced boat operator without one on.
PFDs may help to save a smart persons life, there is no device that can save a person from their own stupidity.
Duh----What???
I know I abandoned mine last week after playing under the capsized rowboat, it made me feel panicky and out of control.
{Susan} "there is no device that can save a person from their own stupidity."
Ain't that the truth!! Good one.
I have to disagree with SusanE about there being no such thing as a life jacket anymore. Check out the link:
http://www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety/TP/TP511/boat.htm
You just don't see them because they are neither cheap nor comfortable. But all classes of lifejacket will keep you afloat and roll an unconscious person onto their back. I believe most if not all classes of commercial vessel must provide lifejackets and not PFDs.
Rest of the comments are spot on though.
The proper lighting for a small craft at night is a steady white light - not a strobe. Google collision regulations canada.
Hey Gryper - according to the small craft regs - you must carry a bouyant heaving line of at least 15M length. If you are using one of those orange police kits - take the rope out and try heaving it as if you were going to rescue someone. Uh huh - lots more fun happening with that one.
And - google canadian marine advisory council proposed changes to small craft regulations. If they get their way - $300 fine if anyone is not actually wearing their PFD or lifejacket.
Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obediance of fools.
KM
YOU the man Gryper
Some years ago I made a comment to somebody at work to the effect that "since I was a kid The People have lost all kinds of rights (now called privileges, thanks to that asshole truedeau and his "constitution"), she said "name one", so I wrote a list of things that I know of which are now illegal, there were more than 20 items on the list at that time and it has gotten worse BUT the real scarry part is that the only right people will have is Sit still and Keep Quiet, while the Police State will control every movement.
I am tired of government and polititions wasting so much time trying to keep me alive, God only knows how come I have managed to survive for so long in such a dangerous Country without their help.
If I get stuck in one of these situations (under the boat or sail, bobbing along as the boat blows away, etc.), then I want to send you an e-mail, so that you will come and rescue me. Therefore, all Canadian approved life jackets should be internet-enabled!
Hope that's the last word on the subject....
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