Let's be careful out there

WebMD.com has a bit about common outdoors injuries. (Thanks to Two Heeled Drive for finding it.)

Then there are a couple tips for preventing injuries. Top on the list is "Stay fit, know your skill level and experience, and don't exceed your limits."

I whole heartedly agree with the first half of that. A little bit of strength and stamina reduce your chances of getting in trouble and increase your ability to get out of it. That doesn't mean you have to be in competitive shape to enjoy the outdoors.

But the "don't exceed your limits" makes me pause. I'm not planning on an Everest expedition or running class 5 rapids. But I do like to test my abilities. I might paddle in seas a little rougher than usual.

Challenges tend to increase skills. I'm never going to get better without taking a bit of risk. But the key is managing the risk. If I paddle in rough seas, I'm not alone. And I have confidence in my rescue abilities. And I'm wearing clothes to help me survive the water temperatures.

But I don't always manage the risk well. While trying to cross an icy slope during a winter hike, I fell and broke my leg. I was lucky in a lot of ways. I could have been hurt worse, and there were a lot people to help with my rescue handy. My mistake was not recognizing the danger and my limitations to handle it.

The best strategy is to be with people who have experience and skill. They can help mitigate your risk while allowing you to learn from challenges.

More on mandated education

Last week I found a story about a proposal to require kayakers take boating safety classes. And I didn't like it. The story focused on sea kayakers and made the case we needed to be licensed. I thought the problem was bigger than sea kayaking.

Today, John Fetterman responded to my blog. You have to read it. He makes a good case for education. States that required motorized boater safety classes saw a 30 percent drop in fatalities.

In 2007, six people died in kayak and canoe accidents in Maine. Only one of those people was wearing a life jacket. I remember that one of those people not wearing a life jacket was a man who didn't know how to swim.

Fetterman makes the case that all boaters could use mandatory education. I agree that increased education and awareness can save lives. But don't wait for the state to make a new law. Learn now.

Where's the PFD?

A couple Sundays ago, Deirdre Fleming had a feature about outrigger canoes. The story include photos.

Staff photo by Doug Jones

As the above photo shows, one paddler went without a lifejacket. Another left his mostly unzipped. Safety-minded readers noticed.

The paddlers didn't feel they needed PFDs. The weather was dead calm. They were close to shore. There other people who could help them out.

Those are good reasons. But everything's a risk. We need to choose those risks carefully. But this part bothers me:

Veteran canoe paddlers Eric and Cindy McNett argue that because of their experience and skills, they know their ability and how to handle an emergency; therefore, they do not need to wear life jackets all the time.

I know a guy who has been paddling for more than 40 years. At one time he was a world-class paddler. No exaggeration. He has earned the confidence to take off his lifejacket. The McNetts aren't that experienced.

It doesn't sound like they consider it a risk. Again, it's a personal decision. But recognize it as a risk.

Yes, I wear my PFD religiously. I am a decent swimmer. But I don't want to take that risk. A lot can go wrong when you fall out of a boat. The damn thing can hit you on the head. And why would you fall out of a boat in the first place? There may be a medical problem that causes you to lose balance. That problem is not going away in the cold water. It's going to hinder your self rescue. The PFD increases my chance of survival and takes a lot of problems out of the mix.

And my PFD is easy to wear. I don't feel hindered by it. And it doesn't cramp my ego. There are too many reasons to wear it.

It's the same as a seat belt. Let's pretend its use isn't mandated by law. How many of you put on your seat belt when you are just driving to the corner store? How many times do you drive without getting into an accident? That seat belt seems pretty unnecessary. Or does it?

While I'm at it, how about this part?

''We know our limitations. We know all about cold weather. Conditions don't take us by surprise. We watch the weather first, so we are not surprised by some kind of front.''

In July 2004, Cindy McNett was stuck on Bangs Island in Casco Bay after fog rolled in, and she was unable to find her way in a canoe from Jewell Island to the mainland. She and other paddlers camped on the island that night before finding their way off in the morning.

McNett said she learned from that experience, and now travels with a GPS.

I'm not going to rant about the unreliability of GPS units. Because I'm sure the McNetts have learned how to use a compass and chart. Plus I'm sure they have learned how to use emergency communication devices - flares or VHF radio. And I'm sure they have some sort of emergency supplies so they don't have to huddle under a lifejacket in the cold night.