The need for boater rescue beta...

[allisonwanderland]

Check out this story from USA Today this week regarding boater safety and the driving need for more training, knowledge, and awareness for anyone going paddling. I would love to hear your thoughts on it....

Dusty

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-29-kayak_N.htm

[JLo]

Interesting article. Education is certainly the key to safety. I can see where the ACA is coming from in opposing mandatory paddler safety classes as being akin to requiring bicyclists to take safety classes. However, paddling seems to have a greater level of risk for novices. If you fall off your bike without a helmet on, you can stand back up, get on and keep going (pending no serious injuries). If you capsize a kayak or canoe without a PFD on, depending on the water a novice is in, it could be very problematic. Due to the inherent risks of paddling it seems whether education is mandatory or not it is needed to help minimize paddling accidents and the need for paddlers to be rescued.