A level of danger accompanies participation in all water sports. Paddling is no exception. The strong currents, shoreline obstacles, and cold conditions underscore the need to always be prepared to deal with any and all circumstances. This page will give you the tools you will need to survive such conditions.
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has developed specifications and criteria for approved personal flotation devices or PFDs as they are known. This article contains the specifications for each Type of PFD.
Whitewater safety can be a tricky thing. While it is generally better to stay with your kayak, canoe, or raft while floating or swimming in whitewater, there are times when it can be dangerous. This article will give some guidelines on how to make that decision.
Every whitewater kayaker, whitewater canoeist, and most rafters will end up swimming if they spend any kind of significant time paddling in whitewater. This article explains how to stay with your equipment in the event you end up having to swim.
At some point or other, everyone who spends any kind of time whitewater kayaking, canoeing, or rafting will end up out of their boat. This article will instruct you on how to float, swim, and self-rescue while in whitewater rapids.
Learning kayaking and canoeing safety is an absolutely essential component of learning how to paddle. Too many people decide to kayak or canoe with little more water safety knowledge than knowing how to swim. There is so much more to know and be prepared with regard to kayaking and canoeing safety than merely knowing how to tread water. Know how to give first aid, save a drowning person, treat hypothermia, swim, and wear the correct gear.
So how young is too young to teach your kids to kayak? The answer to that question varies, but at whatever age you decide to give it a shot, this step-by-step will give you the direction you need to teach your kids to kayak safely and so that they'll want to come back for more.
Dressing for water safety should be a top priority for paddlers of canoes and kayaks. Here is a list of the top 10 things paddlers should wear or have on board to ensure the safety of themselves and the people they are with.
Learn how to rescue a drowning person while you are on the shore.
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.
This About.com First Aid article explains how to recognize and treat hypothermia.
This article from the About.com Powerboat guide site has a fantastic chart relating water temperature to exhaustion, consciousness, and survival time.
This article is important for anyone who kayaks off of beaches and along shorelines.
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.
This piece will give you the fundamentals of administering first aid from the First Aid Guide here at About.com.
The risks surrounding whitewater kayaking are numerous. This article gives a basic understanding of how to best mitigate those risks.
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.
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.
