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| + | <<stories:sunday_weather|Previous Story^stories:bellingham_stories|Story List^thursday_barnacle_run|Next Story>> | ||
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| ===== Surfski rescue in Kelowna - might be of interest ===== | ===== Surfski rescue in Kelowna - might be of interest ===== | ||
| **glenn biernacki** \\ | **glenn biernacki** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29221 | + | May 21 #29221 |
| \\ | \\ | ||
| - | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKz8gSKwZ7o\\ | + | [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKz8gSKwZ7o|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKz8gSKwZ7o]]\\ |
| - | \\ | + | \\ |
| Woman Rushes to Save Capsized Kayaker\\ | Woman Rushes to Save Capsized Kayaker\\ | ||
| This woman saved a capsized kayaker just as he was about to lose consciousness. | This woman saved a capsized kayaker just as he was about to lose consciousness. | ||
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| \\ | \\ | ||
| **David Scherrer** \\ | **David Scherrer** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29222 | + | May 21 #29222 |
| - | Way to go Sally.... | + | Way to go Sally…. |
| **Jon Denham** \\ | **Jon Denham** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29223 | + | May 21 #29223 |
| She did a great job considering the circumstances. | She did a great job considering the circumstances. | ||
| - | It appears his kayak was doing what's called a Cleopatra's Needle, which most commonly occurs in a category of cheap plastic kayaks (rec boats) sold 'everywhere' that have no flotation fore and aft. (Most folks that use these don't have a spray skirt and it's likely their knowledge and skill is not great--we all had/have a big learning curve and had to start somewhere in the sport. These 'rec boats' are not meant for much more than absolutely flat water and close to shore.) Probably singing to the choir here, but the Cleopatra's Needle occurs when a little bit of water (or a lot) gets in the cockpit and sloshes to one end, then that end starts sinking, the other end comes up out of the water and the situation snowballs to a Cleopatra's Needle. Adequate flotation in both ends of the boat is key. | + | It appears his kayak was doing what's called a Cleopatra's Needle, which most commonly occurs in a category of cheap plastic kayaks (rec boats) sold 'everywhere' that have no flotation fore and aft. (Most folks that use these don't have a spray skirt and it's likely their knowledge and skill is not great–we all had/have a big learning curve and had to start somewhere in the sport. These 'rec boats' are not meant for much more than absolutely flat water and close to shore.) Probably singing to the choir here, but the Cleopatra's Needle occurs when a little bit of water (or a lot) gets in the cockpit and sloshes to one end, then that end starts sinking, the other end comes up out of the water and the situation snowballs to a Cleopatra's Needle. Adequate flotation in both ends of the boat is key. |
| Who knows what kind of immersion protection the victim had on. Hard to say. | Who knows what kind of immersion protection the victim had on. Hard to say. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 33: | ||
| Paddle with a marine radio that's functional at all times, or a completely waterproof phone (that you can actually use when everything is wet) in inland areas where no one may be monitoring marine channel 16 or 9. | Paddle with a marine radio that's functional at all times, or a completely waterproof phone (that you can actually use when everything is wet) in inland areas where no one may be monitoring marine channel 16 or 9. | ||
| - | There's a book that's been around awhile that is fairly well known called 'Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble': https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Kayakers-Deep-Trouble-Magazine/dp/0070084998 It's a bunch of reviews of incidents that occured and picks out the usually several things that occured that contributed to the incident or tragedy. Make you think. The one item throughout the book that seems like it would've changed the incident for the better quickest or saved lives? A working marine handheld radio. | + | There's a book that's been around awhile that is fairly well known called 'Sea Kayaker Deep Trouble': [[https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Kayakers-Deep-Trouble-Magazine/dp/0070084998|https://www.amazon.com/Sea-Kayakers-Deep-Trouble-Magazine/dp/0070084998]] It's a bunch of reviews of incidents that occured and picks out the usually several things that occured that contributed to the incident or tragedy. Make you think. The one item throughout the book that seems like it would've changed the incident for the better quickest or saved lives? A working marine handheld radio. |
| **Paul Reavley** \\ | **Paul Reavley** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29224 | + | May 21 #29224 |
| Speculation and questions - | Speculation and questions - | ||
| - | The fellow being helped in the video does not look like he is quite to the desperation point yet where he would be a serious danger to Sally, but he does look and sound like he has been affected by the cold and is having trouble responding. My impression about the initial attempt to have him hold onto the boat front is that he is basically on one side of Sally's surfski and in kicking with his feet to help keep his head up, he creates a strong turning force to the left. You can see Sally's surfski turning left and even though she is a very strong paddler and at one point tries to paddle just on her left side, she cannot turn her surfski back to the right. She then asks him to hug the boat but he does not seem to respond. I have my doubts about whether he could have maintained a wrap around hold on the front of her boat as Jon mentions - it would probably have interfered with the steering less, but he would have still been mostly immersed in the cold water. At that point Sally says she wants to try a different approach and I suspect that she was trying to move him back to the back of her surfski.(Earlier on she had asked him to grab the back of her boat, but he did not get that and his non-responsiveness may have inclined her to just have him grab the front so she could keep an eye on him) | + | The fellow being helped in the video does not look like he is quite to the desperation point yet where he would be a serious danger to Sally, but he does look and sound like he has been affected by the cold and is having trouble responding. My impression about the initial attempt to have him hold onto the boat front is that he is basically on one side of Sally's surfski and in kicking with his feet to help keep his head up, he creates a strong turning force to the left. You can see Sally's surfski turning left and even though she is a very strong paddler and at one point tries to paddle just on her left side, she cannot turn her surfski back to the right. She then asks him to hug the boat but he does not seem to respond. I have my doubts about whether he could have maintained a wrap around hold on the front of her boat as Jon mentions - it would probably have interfered with the steering less, but he would have still been mostly immersed in the cold water. At that point Sally says she wants to try a different approach and I suspect that she was trying to move him back to the back of her surfski.(Earlier on she had asked him to grab the back of her boat, but he did not get that and his non-responsiveness may have inclined her to just have him grab the front so she could keep an eye on him) |
| - | There has been plenty of discussion on Whatcom Paddlers about the limitations of carrying a paddler on a surfski , but within those significant limitations (rescuer skill, water roughness, condition of rescuee...) there is some potential for success. If we practice with each other, at least we have some experience with things like keeping our heads down and center of gravity low. But rescuing a non-surfskier is probably going to involve no such experience on the part of the rescuee and more coaching required of the rescuer - which will only work if the rescuee is adequately responsive. | + | There has been plenty of discussion on Whatcom Paddlers about the limitations of carrying a paddler on a surfski , but within those significant limitations (rescuer skill, water roughness, condition of rescuee…) there is some potential for success. If we practice with each other, at least we have some experience with things like keeping our heads down and center of gravity low. But rescuing a non-surfskier is probably going to involve no such experience on the part of the rescuee and more coaching required of the rescuer - which will only work if the rescuee is adequately responsive. |
| Communication devices are critically important as Jon says. But we have to practice using them too (note to self here). They also have their usability limitations and experience in rough weather can be an eye opener. The video says that Sally did phone for help but given the way he looked she felt that she needed to get him to shore rather than just waiting. I do wonder about what the response time might have been from the rescuers who were phoned. Having a boat come nearby was indeed fortunate. Was this one of those situations where flares or a compressed air horn could have been helpful for getting attention from boats farther away? How many of us carry signaling equipment on a day that looks to me in the video like a fairly benign (wave wise, not water temp wise) day for our local downwinding folk? | Communication devices are critically important as Jon says. But we have to practice using them too (note to self here). They also have their usability limitations and experience in rough weather can be an eye opener. The video says that Sally did phone for help but given the way he looked she felt that she needed to get him to shore rather than just waiting. I do wonder about what the response time might have been from the rescuers who were phoned. Having a boat come nearby was indeed fortunate. Was this one of those situations where flares or a compressed air horn could have been helpful for getting attention from boats farther away? How many of us carry signaling equipment on a day that looks to me in the video like a fairly benign (wave wise, not water temp wise) day for our local downwinding folk? | ||
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| **Dennis Mowry** \\ | **Dennis Mowry** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29225 | + | May 21 #29225 |
| Another term for a boat sinking like this is called "Tombstoning". | Another term for a boat sinking like this is called "Tombstoning". | ||
| Line 59: | Line 61: | ||
| **David Scherrer** | **David Scherrer** | ||
| - | May 21 #29227 | + | May 21 #29227 |
| Good question Paul, what is the smartest thing to do with a rescued person who is experiencing the stages of Hypothermia? Not too sure if hanging on to the boat while trying to paddle really is the most logical.\\ | Good question Paul, what is the smartest thing to do with a rescued person who is experiencing the stages of Hypothermia? Not too sure if hanging on to the boat while trying to paddle really is the most logical.\\ | ||
| Line 65: | Line 67: | ||
| **Reivers Dustin** \\ | **Reivers Dustin** \\ | ||
| - | May 21 #29228 | + | May 21 #29228 |
| - | Paul broke it down pretty well. I feel he was diplomatic about "condition of rescuee". I will say it plain: a person in real distress will kill you. There is no awareness. The person will climb as far out of the water as possible on anything that sticks up. Maybe the boat, maybe something floating in the water, or your head. Ask anyone who has taken water rescue courses or been certified as a life saver. A panicked person has great strength and no reasoning or understanding. | + | Paul broke it down pretty well. I feel he was diplomatic about "condition of rescuee". I will say it plain: a person in real distress will kill you. There is no awareness. The person will climb as far out of the water as possible on anything that sticks up. Maybe the boat, maybe something floating in the water, or your head. Ask anyone who has taken water rescue courses or been certified as a life saver. A panicked person has great strength and no reasoning or understanding. |
| - | I have a story about this, but maybe over a beer sometime. Very important to stand off and carefully assess the person. This is not easy, because there is no obvious signs of danger. Best plan: call for the professionals. | + | I have a story about this, but maybe over a beer sometime. Very important to stand off and carefully assess the person. This is not easy, because there is no obvious signs of danger. Best plan: call for the professionals. |
| - | As far as towing someone, a bunch of us did a race out to Poe's Point buoy and back with a person riding on the back of the surfski. We could get decent speed, but the rider had to be really good - the paddler had less control than the rider. | + | As far as towing someone, a bunch of us did a race out to Poe's Point buoy and back with a person riding on the back of the surfski. We could get decent speed, but the rider had to be really good - the paddler had less control than the rider. |
| **Paul Reavley** \\ | **Paul Reavley** \\ | ||
| - | May 22 #29229 | + | May 22 #29229 |
| For those of us who don't mind reviewing this topic ad nauseum: | For those of us who don't mind reviewing this topic ad nauseum: | ||
| Line 83: | Line 85: | ||
| **Reivers Dustin** \\ | **Reivers Dustin** \\ | ||
| - | May 22 #29230 | + | May 22 #29230 |
| - | Oh yeah. Sally is an elite athlete. Most of us in surfski/OC world know about her. I see lots of totally worthy compliments, but not seeing how her unusual skill and strength is acknowledged in the discussion. One of those commenters mentioned that she likely downplayed the part about 'getting in the water with him'... that in fact the swimmer probably forced her out of the boat as he gripped and tilted the 'ski. | + | Oh yeah. Sally is an elite athlete. Most of us in surfski/OC world know about her. I see lots of totally worthy compliments, but not seeing how her unusual skill and strength is acknowledged in the discussion. One of those commenters mentioned that she likely downplayed the part about 'getting in the water with him'… that in fact the swimmer probably forced her out of the boat as he gripped and tilted the 'ski. |
| As paddlesport becomes more popular, expect more weird stuff. | As paddlesport becomes more popular, expect more weird stuff. | ||
| **beau whitehead** \\ | **beau whitehead** \\ | ||
| - | May 22 #29231 | + | May 22 #29231 |
| I'll quickly jump in here but only to reiterate that a panicked drowning man/woman will try to climb you like a ladder, and if you can't control them, you too may need rescuing. | I'll quickly jump in here but only to reiterate that a panicked drowning man/woman will try to climb you like a ladder, and if you can't control them, you too may need rescuing. | ||
| - | During the rescue of the canoeist on Lake Padden in January 2010 (his partner was found the next day at the bottom of the lake in 40' of water).... I witnessed the drive that one gets to stay alive. Approaching the man, who had gone under three times as I paddled to him, I stopped 20 feet short and called to him. Upon realizing I was there, he immediately was recharged with enough energy to start quickly swimming toward me and my SUP. The look in his eyes was alarming enough to for me to back-paddle enough to keep that 20' safety margin between us until he was again too tired to swim. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was along the lines of instructions to lay over the bow of my board, and that if he tried to grab me, I would hit him with my paddle. And I meant it. I could see the lightbulb click in his eyes, and he answered "yes sir." As we paddled back to the police officer who had grabbed my 2nd SUP, he just kept repeating "go get my friend" over and over. | + | During the rescue of the canoeist on Lake Padden in January 2010 (his partner was found the next day at the bottom of the lake in 40' of water)…. I witnessed the drive that one gets to stay alive. Approaching the man, who had gone under three times as I paddled to him, I stopped 20 feet short and called to him. Upon realizing I was there, he immediately was recharged with enough energy to start quickly swimming toward me and my SUP. The look in his eyes was alarming enough to for me to back-paddle enough to keep that 20' safety margin between us until he was again too tired to swim. I don't remember exactly what I said, but it was along the lines of instructions to lay over the bow of my board, and that if he tried to grab me, I would hit him with my paddle. And I meant it. I could see the lightbulb click in his eyes, and he answered "yes sir." As we paddled back to the police officer who had grabbed my 2nd SUP, he just kept repeating "go get my friend" over and over. |
| That's a long winded way to reinforce that rescuing somebody in the water can go well, or totally sideways. Have a plan in your head before you go straight up to the victim. | That's a long winded way to reinforce that rescuing somebody in the water can go well, or totally sideways. Have a plan in your head before you go straight up to the victim. | ||
| - | **allipp@...** \\ | + | **allipp@…** \\ |
| - | May 23 #29235 | + | May 23 #29235 |
| - | "Reach or throw, don't go" was the motto I learned when I took a lifesaving class back in the early 90s. The irony being the class was taught by Myra Aikau, sister of legend Eddie Aikau, and, um, in Hawaiian pidgen vernacular, he went go. Though in his defense, unlike the demi-god Maui, I doubt he could have reached or thrown anything and magically pulled the Hokulea back to land. | + | "Reach or throw, don't go" was the motto I learned when I took a lifesaving class back in the early 90s. The irony being the class was taught by Myra Aikau, sister of legend Eddie Aikau, and, um, in Hawaiian pidgen vernacular, he went go. Though in his defense, unlike the demi-god Maui, I doubt he could have reached or thrown anything and magically pulled the Hokulea back to land. |
| - | But I digress, so back to the point. How would you "reach or throw"? One could take off their PFD and throw it to a person in distress, or, unclip a waist leash and allow it to drag behind far enough for someone to hold onto. Both of these however have the drawback of putting the rescuer at risk, though probably much lower than having a panicked person grab on to you or your craft. | + | But I digress, so back to the point. How would you "reach or throw"? One could take off their PFD and throw it to a person in distress, or, unclip a waist leash and allow it to drag behind far enough for someone to hold onto. Both of these however have the drawback of putting the rescuer at risk, though probably much lower than having a panicked person grab on to you or your craft. |
| - | Any other thoughts? Bring a rescue throw bag? A giant inflatable unicorn? | + | Any other thoughts? Bring a rescue throw bag? A giant inflatable unicorn? |
| {{ :incidents_stories:rescuefloat.png?direct&400x417 }} | {{ :incidents_stories:rescuefloat.png?direct&400x417 }} | ||
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