Common Sense Kayaking Safety

Sometimes having a great time while enjoying a sport like kayaking boils down to the old adage .. "Use your head". In other words, obey the rules of common sense. The following tips are really "no brainers", but still timely reminders to help keep you safe.

Safety Tips for Kayaking: 

• Always tell someone about your plans, including where you intend to kayak and when you expect to be back.
• Don’t kayak by yourself.
• Don’t overestimate your skill or physical fitness. Choose a waterway that’s not too difficult for you to manage.
• Take lessons on how to safely enter and exit the kayak at the shoreline.
• Take lessons to improve your paddling and safety techniques.
• If you fall into the water, stay with your craft. Keep a firm grip on your paddle.
• Resist the temptation to walk through relatively shallow water – your feet may get hooked on submerged objects. Always swim.
• Learn first aid to ensure you have the skills to deal with an emergency situation.

Safety Tips for Weather Conditions:

• Check weather and conditions before you paddle – including marine or mountain weather forecasts, relevant river flow levels (for inland waters) and wind warnings (for lakes and oceans).
• Don’t paddle in extreme conditions such as high winds, a large swell, extreme temperatures, fog or thunderstorms.
• Avoid heat stress by paddling early in the morning or late in the afternoon (particularly in summer) and using sun protection measures.
• Don’t paddle at night unless you are experienced and only paddle where you have a clear vision of the route ahead.

Safety Tips For Possibly Hazardous Areas:

• Check out the waterway from land first, if you’re paddling in a waterway for the first time.
• Look out for and avoid possible hazards such as overhanging or submerged tree branches, a high volume of water, unpredictable currents or a large swell, low water temperature, other craft, marine life or snakes.
• Talk to local kayakers for information specific to the waterway you plan to paddle.

This article was also published in Ezine Articles.