Safety & Precautions
The Hand of God Kayak Rescue
The Hand of God kayak rescue is used when a person is upside down in his or her kayak and is not making any progress toward getting out of the kayak or rolling the kayak back up. This could be due to them being unconscious in the boat, having an injury preventing them from exiting the kayak, or due to panic in the kayak. Here are the steps to doing the Hand of God kayak rescue maneuver.
How to Use a Paddle Float
How to Self Rescue in a Kayak Using a Paddle Float
Sea Kayaking Safety Gear
There are also some very important safety items that should be with the sea kayaker on his or her journey. Here is a list of the most necessary sea kayaking safety gear.
Sea Kayaking Safety Rescues
Here is a skill progression of the different kayak safety rescues sea kayakers should learn.
The Kayak T-Rescue : Getting Back into the Kayak
There is really two parts to the technique known as the kayak t-rescue. Once the kayaker is out of his or her kayak, the first part of the t-rescue is to ensure the kayaker is safe, to flip the capsized kayak and drain it, and to position the kayak for reentry. Once these things are complete, it is time for the kayaker to reenter his or her kayak.
How to Roll a Kayak Using a Paddle Float
This article explains how to roll a capsized kayak using a paddle float.
The Kayak T-Rescue
Every kayaker should know how to get back into their kayak in the event that they become separated from their boat. The Kayak T-Rescue is one of the easiest methods for doing so, providing the kayaker is not paddling alone. The following steps should be practiced by two or more kayakers in shallow water prior to going out on any kind of unprotected water kayaking trip.
The Basics of Rescuing a Drowning Person From Shore
Learn how to rescue a drowning person while you are on the shore.
The Basics of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
CPR is one of the most important safety skills that a paddler can know. This article will give you the basics and it could save the life of a loved one.
Learn How to Recognize and Treat Hypothermia
This About.com First Aid article explains how to recognize and treat hypothermia.
How Long Can You Survive in Freezing Water?
This article from the About.com Powerboat guide site has a fantastic chart relating water temperature to exhaustion, consciousness, and survival time.
Kayaking During Flooding
Whitewater kayaking during flooding flood stage conditions is truly a treasured experience for the white water kayaker. Every whitewater kayaker begins to salivate upon mention of rain. It is the mechanism which revitalizes the whitewater boater’s playing field. While emotion is induced as a result of rain, that doubles at the mention of flooding and flood stage conditions. Once again, wher…
Escaping Rip Currents at the Beach
This article is important for anyone who kayaks off of beaches and along shorelines.
The Essentials of Creating a First Aid Kit
This article will give you all of the information you need to build your own first aid kit. If you'd rather not make your own, it also contains links on some of the good prepackaged kits that you can buy.
Basic First Aid- First Aid ABCs
This piece will give you the fundamentals of administering first aid from the First Aid Guide here at About.com.
Whitewater Kayaking Safety
The risks surrounding whitewater kayaking are numerous. This article gives a basic understanding of how to best mitigate those risks.
Safety Code of American Whitewater
This article represents the most complete and the latest source of information on whitewater safety. American Whitewater sets the standard when it comes to whitewater paddling in the United States. Every paddler should read and know this document.
Throw Bag In Whitewater to Rescue Paddlers
These steps will instruct would be rescuers in the art of using a throw bag in whitewater and swift water rescue scenarios.
Sea Kayaking Safety Owner's Manual
There are many hidden risks related to Sea Kayaking. This Sea Kayaking Safety Owner's Manual articulates those risks and gives great tips on the necessary precautions that one must take while Sea Kayaking.
How to Pack a Throw Rope Bag
Throw rope and rope bags are essential pieces of safety gear for whitewater kayakers, canoeists, and rafters. Once a throw bag is deployed, whether to rescue a swimmer or just for practice, it is important that the safety rope is properly packed back in the rope bag. Follow these steps for instructions how to stuff and pack a throw bag.
How to Self-Rescue Using a Paddle Float
This image gallery gives a step-by-step look at how to properly use a paddle float to reenter and bilge out a flipped kayak.
Paddle Float Tutorial - How to Self Rescue using a Paddle Float
This image gallery gives a step-by-step look at how to properly use a paddle float to reenter and bilge out a flipped kayak
Hurricane Kayaking
Hurricane kayaking must be approached with caution. This article will help you figure out if kayaking before, during, or after a hurricane is a good idea for you.