Kayak Safety: Kayak deaths/ Accidents across the US
The recent death of the Dad in the Nissequogue River in LI affected me deeply, possibly because I was there when it happened.
My heart goes out to the family of the officer who drowned.
Sadly, today there is a 5 year old growing up without his father. http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...cons/icon9.png
I can't let it end there, I feel I must do more.
So I've decided to do a comprehensive documentation of all the kayak deaths in the US, every year. Complete with stats, but stats don't always tell the story.
Stories and details do....because it is these details that will eventually reach people and cause them to either become more safety oriented, or contact their legislators and get them to iron out some tougher safety laws.
I realize this is a slippery slope here.
I'm very hesitant to push for things that will make it more onerous or expensive to own a kayak. I hate government intrusion into our lives as it is. Don't want to be the source of more of it. And I know some kayakers will hate the fact that I am talking about this stuff here....
Nonetheless, I feel it's important to raise awareness, to the extent that some might feel I'm preaching about it. And their assessments, would be correct. :)
I just don't know of any other way to raise awareness of the risk without talking about the deaths.
I would like to point out there are many successful kayak trips each year.
It's a great way to go out and enjoy the water.
There are those who say we are on a slippery slope here...if legislatrors can regulate kayak safety, perhaps they will regulate whether we can creep around on jetties at night, as their next objective.
A friend said:
"Rich we live in a country of freedoms. We can't be expected to pretect people from not taking precautions on their own. People have a right to make safety mistakes."
I agree with that, but when kids are involved, and you're not out there by yourself., perhaps there should be some more guidelines.
Sometimes, the only way for those guidelines to be followed is by laws being enacted.
I don't have any concrete proposals yet, but am willing to align myself with and promote any group that is promoting kayak/small craft safety and wants to get the word out there.....
So, here you have the kakak deaths thread...
the most in-your-face-way to raise awareness that I know.
I'll start it out, then please feel free to add to it if you can, providing the appropriate link to each story about a kayak death.
I know this may be upsetting to some, but couldn't forgive myself if at least I didn't try to raise more awareness....
Thanks for reading. :HappyWave:
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US kayak death stats 1984-2008
This is a total of all whitewater boating fatalities. You can see for kayaks, in the earlier years, there were more fatalities as more got into the sport. Then there is a trending down. I would hypothesize that in the years 2010-2012 that number will be trending upward as more people are involved in the sport than ever before......
2008 Whitewater Boating Fatalities
The number of whitewater accidents declined in the second half of 2008. Between July and December American Whitewater received reports of 6 kayak, 5 canoe, and 9 rafting fatalities. The number of whitewater kayaking deaths this year, 16, is somewhat higher than in recent years. This is probably due to the increased presence of recreational kayaks on whitewater. This year's 8 canoeing deaths are about average, but the total of 29 rafting fatalities is the second highest number on record. The rafting number is always pushed upwards during Western big-water years. There were 12 commercial deaths, which seems high. Strainers, dams, and high water flushes continued to be major issues for both experienced and inexperienced paddlers.
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NB: Although American Whitewater does not receive reports of all whitewater accidents in the USA, we think our list of whitewater kayak accidents is pretty complete. This table includes some fatalities of Americans paddling abroad.
http://www.nrsweb.com/safety_tips/wh...fatalities.asp
*****Caveat, the above list does not include ALL kayak deaths for this period. The actual number could be higher and is subject to revision as I do more research.
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US kayak death stats 2010
Note, these stats and pics come from Qajaqrolls, a thoroughly informative blog run by Christopher Crowther of Minnesota.
Please take a moment to visit his blog here.
http://www.qajaqrolls.com/
If you have a chance, sign in and thank him for all he is doing for safety. :clapping::clapping:
It contains some of the most comprehensive tutorials on kayak rolls and safety maneuvers that I have ever come across. :clapping: :thumbsup:
2010 Kayak death statistics
http://www.qajaqrolls.com/2011/06/an...-incident.html
52 people died and 34 people reported injuries in kayak incidents.
6 deaths and 3 reported injuries occurred in rented kayaks.
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US kayak death stats 2012