3 Essential Survival Keys for Cold Water Kayaking

By on April 1, 2015
Michael J. Henderson

The creeks are high, the rivers are fast…must be Springtime!  The rain and the snowmelt has created a lot of great paddling opportunities for those of us who enjoy the early kayaking season.  This is actually my all-time favorite season for being on the water, but there are definitely some hazards to be aware of before launching into the fast Winter run-off on the creeks and rivers.

So…here are some quick cold water survival tips just for you!

Many people are understandably nervous about paddling the waterways this time of the year…but even for warm weather paddling, these survival tips are very important throughout the year and in any weather or water situation.  In the book I cover a little bit about Dry Suits and the necessity for cold water clothing and gear.  Anyone who has been around kayaking or canoeing for a while has heard a few horror stories that usually end in a potentially-preventable drowning situation.  While paddling is a fun activity and not to be feared, there are safety factors that anyone who enjoys being on the water should consider…long before you ever launch any boat.

So, let’s make this quick and easy so that you can get out and enjoy the paddling!

  • Survival Tip #1: Easy, Peasy…wear your PFD!

 

I am sometimes guilty of NOT following this one, especially when the weather is extra warm, lazy and allows for what are actually “float” trips, but here in Pennsylvania, and in many other states, you are required to wear your PFD from November through the end of April.  Remember…the water is COLD!  I LOVE paddling the cold season for a number of reasons, and even though I do crazy things like Polar Bear Plunges into icy waters, I have a HUGE respect for how quickly our bodies can shut down and stop functioning in cold water situations.  If anything, those Polar Plunges have deepened my respect for frigid waters!  Get educated, be informed, RESPECT the cold, and you will have many years of fun and beautiful outdoor adventures.

Another quick aspect to your PFD is to strap on a folding serrated knife…or at the very least paddle with someone in your group who carries one…this is a tool that could also mean life or death in a capsized situation if you become trapped in a snag with your PFD.  PFDs are essential, but they can also create bad situations…just be aware and think about these things prior to paddling.

  • Survival Tip #2: Attach a WHISTLE to your PFD!

 

A waterproof whistle is one of the KEY items I carry with me on the water, and I include it on my running packs, trekking packs, and with all of my outdoor gear.  I can’t emphasize enough just how important a waterproof whistle could be to you when you least expect it!

Survival situations are no respecter of person or place or time…crazy things happen to good people also.  Not water-related, but a few years ago I had a face-to-face bear encounter…guess what I didn’t have with me that one time?  My whistle.  Every other time I would run on the trails I have always carried a whistle and pepper spray…not that day.  I left all my extra items behind in my Jeep because I was just going to go for a quick little 4-mile run out and back…nothing extra needed…weather was fabulous…quick and easy.  And, bam!  Almost body-slammed that mama bear…a whistle might have been helpful if I had slowed down enough from running away just as fast as I could possibly run…in the other direction!

But, back to the water…often when paddling with a group most kayakers get spread out quite a distance from each other to enjoy their own space.  If you are falling behind and run into a situation, there might not be anyone behind you to see you.  That waterproof whistle might be your only hope to signal the folks ahead of you…and you would be surprised how difficult it is to hear voices across flowing water.  Think ahead!

  • Survival Tip #3: Stay Upstream of Your Kayak (or Canoe) if You Capsize!

 

This is something very few people think about.  But you don’t want to get caught between your kayak and a snag or a rock…the incredible pressure of the water pushing the boat onto your body will render you totally helpless.  You CANNOT fight and win against that much pressure.

If you go overboard into flowing water…fast or otherwise…get behind your boat and let it go ahead of you…stay behind it on the upstream side.  You want to be going downstream with your feet in front of you to push you off from rocks or snags…if your boat gets sucked into a snag, let go and get away from it.  Go around it and get to shore as quickly as you can.  Do NOT try to attempt to rescue your kayak.  LEAVE IT BEHIND!  This is the situation where the majority of drowning deaths occur.  Please don’t be another horrible statistic.

Kayaking is a fun and wonderful adventure…just remember these 3 survival tips and, hey…just stay out of the water unless you want to go swimming (preferably in WARM water)!

Adventure On!

 

 


 

 

 

About Tambra

Tambra Warner Sabatini is the “Adventurer-in-Chief” of Cross Adventuring, which encompasses her vision for a better approach to our lives and where adventure and whole life mastery merge to transform us individually and within our communities. She believes that we must regain our passion and ability to design personal lives that are truly fulfilling and leave a positive legacy for our children and our world. Tambra is a devoted entrepreneur with a heart for sharing and leading others outdoors into life-transforming adventures. After a decade-long stint with the Federal Government as a paralegal, she began her entrepreneurial adventures. A series of major life transitions were kept in perspective through expanding her adventuring activities into ultra-endurance events and teaching her love for outdoor recreation with school children and adults through one-on-one coaching and group classes and include cross country skiing, geocaching, kayaking, windsurfing, ultra trail running, backpacking/fastpacking, and the list expands frequently. She is a prolific Indie Publisher of her own and her client's books. Check out her Amazon Author Page for her latest releases, including Adventure Foods.

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