Hello everyone,

I would like some imput and discussion of minimum safety gear and why. Is there a difference in what a kayaker, a canoer and a raft should have on board at all times?

Legally, all I have to carry is a life jacket but as an avid riverman I carry much, much more. I am also the safety officer of a concervation-paddling group and have the chance to work with others on safety issues as well as trying to learn more myself.

1. Life Jacket Needs no explaining
2. Throw bag Because I was told I should have one
3. First aid kit In case I need it
4. Whistle Help!
5. AW Safety cards Sometimes we all need a little advice


Help me out with what you carry and why.

Thanks

akachileone,

When I used to guide for the Rivermen in West Va.on the New, Gauley we at one time had to carry 3 throw bags 1 for rescue the other 2 were short to flip the raft over more quickly...

As of now when I kayak I carry 1 throw bag but it is during very timid kayaking with my wife and daughter...

When I kayak more aggressive I include z-line kit as well.

I also always carry my cell phone which I can pull up GPS coordinates as well if needed. This stays in my pelican box along with a couple tubes of GLUCOSE as well. I have not had to use my Z-line ever. I have used my throw bag 3 times in the past two years.

And for the GLUCOSE I use it about 4-6 times per year on average!!!!!!!!! Alot of people on insuline do not take enough food to componsate for the calories you burn even during recreational paddling!!
Kelly

I've often seen it written "If you carry a rope, you should carry a knife."
Any situation where a rope is deployed *could* turn into a situation where there is a need to cut a rope.

True about the knife I forgot to list that one! Also I carry a bottle of aspirin as well, great for rubbing on bee stings, and possible heart attack and it fits easily in my pelican box. Plus I keep a cigeratte lighter in my pelican box as well along with a small LED flashlight. All that stuff and there is no weight to it at all. Oh yeh and a couple of cliff bars

Hi akachileone

I guide and also paddle for fun with friends.

You should have enough emergency gear between everyone in your party to assist with whatever you may come up against. The list that i have below may seem a little long, but if you split the gear up it won't seem so much.

You are going to need to consider the distance youre going, the amount of people you have with you, their ages and abilitities, any medical conditions folks may have, if they are prone to getting cold quickly, and the distance you are [in minutes or hours] from professional emergency care.

In addition to rescue and first aid gear it is important to note that many injuries happen as a result of folks not fealing so well due to dehydration and hypothermia. When folks become dehydrated, they are prone to headaches, diziness etc. and that can lead to the need for more first aid. So hydration is an important aspect. Have enough drinking water for everyone for the amount of time that you anticipate being out, and maybe a little extra. I got mildly hypothermic on two occasions in relatively warm weather. An emergency blanket, or even a large trash bag can help overcome this without taking up too much space. Hypothermia is especially dangerous and can lead to falls, and other mishaps.

Another thing to consider is that you may come across folks on the river who are not in your group, but may be in need, perhaps even dire need of assistance. This is especially important to me if they have youngsters with them.

Here is what i have with me always.

1. helmet and rescue vest with tow teather. [only use a rescue vest if you have been trained in its use].

2. in the vest - blunt tip river knife - i keep the knife teathered in the vest so a panicked swimmer can't grab it off the front of the vest. [Also...rivers take knives. The nicer the knife...the more the river wants it.] The blunt tip style knife is safer, and can double as a screwdriver. Rob is right....rope = knife.

3 also in the vest - two 18" sling loops made of 7mm kernmantle rope. One 8' sling made of webbing and 3 locking caribiners. This stuff comes in handy for securing my kayak and paddle while assisting folks who may need help in current. The loops are for making prussics in the event that you need to make a z drag or other rope securing system. The webbing is used with a caribiner to free up a pinned raft.

4. throw bag [practice using it and packing it correctly].

5. break down paddle [just in case i, or someone else loses one]

6. lighter with a foot or so of duct tape wrapped around it. [good for patching holes, or covering up a drain hole in a kayak with a missing drain plug !!!]

7. first aid kit - mine fits in a medium pelican box. In addition to the usual stuff I have a medium sized syringe in there that is really good for filling up with clean water to blast river sludge out of a cut. I agree also with Kelly about having the tube of glucose. I use a tube of cake frosting for this.
Have a mylar emergency blanket or large trash bag in there too to wrap up a shivering kid [or adult for that matter].

8. Medication -- just a couple of each in a ziplock takes up little to no room.
*Benedrill. ...a nasty sting or spider bite, nettles or other itchy things you may encounter, the benedrill will be nice thing to have espcially on a multi-day trip.
*Imodium - [lets face it diarhea sucks to begin with....diarhea in a kayak really sucks !!!!!!!!!!!!
*Aspirin [heart emergency]
*Ibuprofin

9. sufficient drinking water...extrememly important.

10. your choice of trail mix, cliff bar, snickers - some high calorie, high energy food....make sure everybody has some. Remember, this along with hydration goes a long way to prevent muscle cramping, fatigue, headache, whining, complaining and excessive bitchiness !!!

I know this list may not look 'minimalistic', but in reality it all really breaks down into a pretty small space. I have had one or more of these items 'save the day' on numerous occasions.


happy paddling

mm

Whistle, two. 70' 3/8 spectra rope, a 24" spectra sling, two 18" prusiks, 3 locking carabiners, extra food and water, first aid kit, more importantly, "know how!" as a veteran paramedic I can make do with nothing, or next to nothing as to know what, and what not to do., dress for swimming, like you might be in the water holding your buddys head above water, and you are becoming hypothermic by the minute.
ACA SWR Class, more, "know how"
There is always more you can carry, but, gear doesn't save lives, knowing how does.
less is more......
One Sunday a year I spend a few hours throwing my throwbag at the rafting tourists, Nanty Falls, reeling in a few dozen tourists for fun and training.

kayakist1955 is right on the money - know how and common sense are the single most important thing to take with you. Practicing basic skills throughout the season is key as well.

The ACA SWR class is great and only takes up a weekend. It is also worth repeating every couple years.


For folks who aren't EMT trained and can't take the time and expense for WFR there is a very good first aid class - -WFA wilderness first aid, that is offered by a couple of different organizations. That is another weekend well spent, and does not cost an arm and a leg....good practicle information

happy paddling.

Howdy,
Great thoughts all around. I would add some specific products that I really like, and that have saved my bacon. (And no, I am not sponsored by Petzl, Campmor, Bic, or the space blanket people.)

Petzl e+Lite. This is a bright, inexpensive, waterproof headlamp that weighs one oz. and has a shelf life of 10 years. Buy one, toss it in your drybag, and forget about it. It will work when you need it.

Disposable piezo lighter (aka "electronic lighter"). These look like regular disposable lighters, but have no flint and no wheel to spin. Instead, you push a button, which produces a spark from a piezoelectric crystal. These work when wet--you can use it in the rain, with wet hands, even dunk it underwater. These cost about 4 bucks, or double the price of a regular lighter. And they are worth it. If you want to see one of these, go to www.bicworld.com and look at the electronic lighters. I bet that one quick mart in ten sells these things--when I see one, I buy one. Put it in a ziplock with some firestarter.

Space Blanket Bag. The bag version of the space blanket. 3 ft x 7 ft, weighs 4 oz, fits inside your roll of duct tape, and available for 10 bucks or less from Campmor, etc. I bet it makes a night out about 10-20 degrees warmer. For a rainsuit, put it on upside down with a hole cut for your face.

Cheers,
Eric Nies, AW Safety chair

Well, at this point I've got to comment . . . The topic of this thread and the content of this thread area really hitting a bit of a divergence. And, it is probably the stated topic which is perhaps slightly 'ill-chosen'. Strictly speaking, for a great many boaters and outings, "Minimum safety gear" could hardly include all the things being suggested!

In the original post it was offered "Is there a difference in what a kayaker, a canoer and a raft should have on board at all times?" Obviously that would be true. (For rafters, at least framed or large rafts, 'flip lines' are MANDATORY safety gear, but ridiculous for all others.) More to the point, "Minimum safety gear" would vary far more depending upon WHERE and WHEN you are boating. How difficult a river, how remote a river, how long a river, under what water/weather conditions, . . .

"Minimum safety gear" for a summer outing on an in town park-and-play wave with the river running at 'normal' flows will obviously be quite different that for a cold weather/water, multi-day, exploratory expedition on a remote river with the possibility of rapidly changing flows. For the former, I might choose and need no more than an air matttress or inner tube and sneakers. If it's shallow I may wish to add knee pads, elbow pads, maybe shin guards, and a helmet. If there's more current and deeper water (and even if not) it may be best (though not mandatory in most states, since my 'craft' is not a 'boat') to have a PFD. Et cetera, et cetera.

"Minimum safety gear" is always 'something less than you have with you' if nothing goes awry. It is only 'something more than you have with you' if something goes awry and you are not successful in being able to deal with it.

So, the answers will range (relatively speaking) all over the place because the "Minimum safety gear" depends on so many other factors. You really have to look at each outing, each situation, and consider "What is the WORST FEASIBLE FORSEEALBE SITUATION" that could happen (with your group, your various craft, the river, the weather, ...), and if you are prepared for that, you have the "Minimum safety gear". If something 'unforseeable' happens, your "Minimum safety gear" may or may not be enough.

Even though I stay out of the Class III and above This is my minimum list.
1) A helmet because of the low branches on the trees.
2) My cell phone
3) A peice of rope and knife.
4) Water
5 ) PFD
and most important of all
6) somebody else