According to the United States Coast Guard press release dated July 22, 2008, kayaking and canoeing represent more than 15% of all recreational boating fatalities in the U.S.

Although recreational boating fatalities decreased in 2007 to 685 from 710 in 2006, the number of fatalities associated with the use of canoes and kayaks increased to 107 in 2007 as compared with 99 in 2006. 15.6 percent of the total of all recreational fatalities in the U.S. in 2007 were using kayaks and canoes. (66 canoe, 31 kayak) and 97 of the 107 were from drowning. These statistics are from the Coast Guard’s Office of Auxiliary and Boating safety.

Well that’s sort of gloomy isnt’ it? But there is some good news…

The good news is that kayaking and canoeing are can be… and should be … safe water activities for the whole family. If you just remember some basic paddling safety tips and techniques every time you get in your kayak or canoe, you’re pretty much assured to have a trouble free and really fun time on the water.

Most of these are common sense to veteran paddlers, but you newcomers to the sport (and there are a lot of you, more and more every year) may not grasp just how important it is to think safety whenever going paddling. And let’s face it, you veterans could probably use a reminder! Maybe you feel comfortable in your boat and view your kayak or canoe as just another appendage of your body…so you think it is ok to cut safety corners.

I hate to point out again the gloomy stats above, but clearly safety is something that ALL kayakers and canoers need to think seriously about. So, here are some basic safety tips for kayak and canoe, and really for anyone out on the water is some sort of craft, raft or boat, from the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the American Canoe Association:

• Always wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
• Be comfortable in the water, out of your boat.
• Obtain the knowledge, skills and ability necessary for kayaking and canoeing.
• Always boat with a group. Three boats is a recommended minimum.
• Know how to self-rescue. Practice! Practice! Practice!
• File a float plan, with friends, family, or the authorities.
• Bring appropriate safety, rescue, and navigational aids, and more than adequate food, water, and extra protective clothing. Do not wear cotton!
• Pick an activity level that matches your ability, and progress to more demanding challenges.
• Monitor your physical and emotional condition, and watch the other members or your group for fatigue, illness, and changes in behavior.
• Know and follow all local, state and federal laws.
• Be visible - wear bright colors so others can see you between waves or in the fog.
• Carry a bright light, flares, and whistle to signal your position.
• Take a boating safety class offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Do you carry a first aid kit on your paddling trips?
Paddling first aid kits are small and compact and come in watertight containers. You can purchase a paddling first aid kit or make your own. Click here to browse first aid kits and learn how to make your own.

Do you have and wear a Coast Guard approved life vest?

All boaters, canoers, kayakers, and rafters should were a coast guard approved life vest when on the water. Modern life vests (or PFDs) aren’t as uncomfortable as they were years ago. You can purchase life vests that are specifically designed for paddling. Paddling life jackets and PFDs come with pockets to hold your GPS, whistle, sunscreen, car keys and any other necessities you may need on the water and afterward. They come with large armholes and adjustable straps so you can get a comfortable fit. An added bonus would be to choose a bright colored PFD with reflective strips so you can be easily seen by other boaters. Click here to browse life vests designed for kayaking and canoeing.

Do you carry extra clothing while paddling?

Carrying extra paddle clothing or gear has never been easier. Dry bags are your answer. They will keep clothing or objects dry even if the bag goes over the side. Dry bags come in many sizes and colors. Many come with a loop to attach to your kayak or canoe so if your dry bag does go over the side it will not float away. Click here to browse many sizes and styles of dry bags.

These days it so easy to be both safe and comfortable on the water, that it is just silly to do it any other way! Next time you are preparing for a kayak or canoe trip, or any boating activity, remember your safety checklist, your first aid kit, your life vest or PFD, and your extra clothing.

Happy (and SAFE) paddling!

Got a safety tip for fellow paddlers? Use our handy contact form to tell us about it and we may share it right here on BornToPaddle.com

Did you know that when you are thirsty you are already partially dehydrated?

It’s true! It is very important to drink water when you are paddling to make sure you stay hydrated. If you get dehydrated it could lead to serious illnesses and sometimes even death.

What exactly is dehydration? Dehydration is when your body loses more bodily fluids than you take in, and can not carry on its normal “everyday� functions. When you notice dehydration in its mild stage you may just need some rest and fluids but some times in more serious cases you may need to head to the hospital.

“What are some symptoms of dehydration?� you say. Good for you for caring! Here are some of the symptoms of MILD dehydration:

· Dry, sticky mouth

· Tiredness or sleepiness

· Thirst

· Muscle weakness

· Headache

· Lightheadedness or dizziness

If you are experiencing the symptoms above simply drink some water, get out of the sun and take a breather. You may want to ( if you are paddling near a bank or on a river) take a break under a shady tree on the shore or just float along for awhile.

If your symptoms are worse and you think you might have severe dehydration, which IS a medical emergency, you might want to head to the hospital. Here are some symptoms of SEVERE dehydration:

· Extreme thirst

· Irritability or Confusion

· Very dry mouth

· Lack of sweating

· Little or no urination

· Dry and shriveled skin with hardly any elasticity

· Low blood pressure

· Rapid heartbeat

· Fever

AND IN VERY SEVERE CASES

· Delirium or unconsciousness

If you are experiencing the symptoms above, you would want to drink some water and head to the hospital.

The best way to prevent dehydration is to not get it in the first place! That is very simple-just by bringing water with you and drinking it regularly. It is a good idea to bring extra water on the river because you may not know if you would get delayed. You could also get one of those fancy “portable water treaters� if you are doing a long race or just don’t feel like lugging around all those bottles.

But wait! “Once I have all the water – How much should I drink?�

Generally women should drink 2.7 liters of water and men should drink 3.7 liters total. But that’s without the exercise – add that in and you should drink about 13 to 26 ounces an hour unless the weather is sweltering then you need to drink more. But…..during long bouts of exercise it is best to drink a sports drink that contains sodium because when you sweat you lose sodium and water can’t replace that. Just don’t go chugging sport drinks because nothing can replace the calorie, fat, and sugar free goodness of water.

SO remember! WATER WORKS!

Paddling First Aid Kits are a good idea for all paddlers, whether they are in a kayak, a canoe or a raft.  You can carry a basic first-aid kit for short float trips but you will have to add to it for longer more secluded trips. Be sure to enclose your kit in a watertight or waterproof container or bag.

Here is a basic list of what should be included in your first-aid kit:

• Waterproof container to hold  the contents of your First-aid kit
• Band-Aids
• Ibuprofen, acetaminophen
• Antibiotic cream
• Sunscreen lotion
• Prescription medication
• Bug bite cream
• Antiseptic wipes
• Tweezers
• Antihistamine
• Alcohol wipes
• First Aid-manual
• Emergency phone numbers
• Whistle
• Mouth barrier for CPR

You will need to add to your first-aid kit depending on your personal experiences, needs, length of trip, number of people in your party, and paddling environment. You may also consider building or purchasing a survival kit too, especially if you are intending to paddle, hike or camp in remote areas.

You can purchase a ready made first-aid kit or put one together yourself. Just make sure you check the kit regularly and replace any used or expired supplies. You may also want to take a first-aid course so you will know how to use the contents of your kit. If you haven’t taken a first-aid course  recently, take a refresher course - first-aid procedures do change. Your local Red Cross will most likely have first-aid and CPR courses.

Just remember whether you kayak, canoe, raft or participate in other outdoor activities, you should always bring a first-aid kit along. 

 Click here to learn more about what to include in your first-aid kit and what sort of first-aid and survival kits are available to buy.

Living in Tennessee we often get unseasonably warm weather in winter months. Whenever I pass over the Harpeth River on a warm winter day, I want to rush right home, rip the cover off my kayak and go paddling. But there is one thing I always need to remember, no matter how good the river looks, and how warm I believe the day to be, the water is actually much colder than what I’m used to and so, the air temperature on the river will also be colder.

I’m not saying that I don’t go paddling on those balmy winter days…I’m still paddling, but I’m paddling prepared for the cold. I bring extra layers in case of cloud cover that brings chilly winds, and also in case I get wet. Even a dripping paddle can get you wet enough to feel a chill. A spray skirt is also a must on these days. It not only keeps the water off of me and my clothes, it keeps my body heat inside the kayak - at least from the waist down.

Hypothermia is defined as dangerously low body temperature. That means if your body temp falls to or below 95°F (35°C), you may be in trouble. Since normal body temperature is around 98.6°F… that’s not very far to fall. Hypothermia occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate.

Some tips on cold weather paddling:

• When paddling in cold weather or on cold waters, be prepared for the possibility for hypothermia.
• Carry extra clothing, space blankets and regular blankets in a dry bag
• Use a spray skirt
• Wear a hat (most body heat escapes through the top of the head)
• Wear a jacket made from water proof or water resistant materials
• Wear gloves or a jacket with pockets where you can warm your hands
• Carry “hand warmers” - these can also be put in your shoes to keep your feet warm
• Carry a cell phone with you in case you need to call for help
• Don’t go paddling alone - go with other paddlers so you can each watch out for each other

Signs of hypothermia indclude:

• Drowsiness
• Weakness and loss of coordination
• Pale and cold skin
• Confusion
• Uncontrollable shivering (although at extremely low body temperatures, shivering may stop)
• Slowed breathing or heart rate

First Aid for hypothermia:

• If any symptoms of hypothermia are present, especially confusion or changes in mental status, immediately call 911.
• If the person is unconscious, check airway, breathing, and circulation. If necessary, begin rescue breathing or CPR. If the victim is breathing less than 6 breaths per minute, begin rescue breathing.
• Take the person inside to room temperature and cover him or her with warm blankets. If going indoors is not possible, get the person out of the wind and use a blanket to provide insulation from the cold ground. Cover the person’s head and neck to help retain body heat.
• Once inside, remove any wet or constricting clothes and replace them with dry clothing.
• Warm the person. If necessary, use your own body heat to aid the warming. Apply warm compresses to the neck, chest wall, and groin. If the person is alert and can easily swallow, give warm, sweetened, nonalcoholic fluids to aid the warming.
• Stay with the person until medical help arrives.

What NOT to do:

• DO NOT assume that someone found lying motionless in the cold is already dead.
• DO NOT use direct heat (such as hot water, a heating pad, or a heat lamp) to warm the person.
• DO NOT give the person alcohol!

The key to happy paddling in any weather is Preparation! Paddling is fun. Be responsible and be prepared whenever you’re in a kayak, canoe or raft and you’re sure to have a great day on the water.

For more information about how to recognize the warning signs of hypothermia, visit the National Institutes of Health website.

Are you prepared for a great paddling adventure? Check out our Canoe & Kayak Adventure Travel pages for your next unforgettable paddling trip.

That’s right, eat all you want paddlers. Then get out on the lake or the river in your canoe or kayak and paddle, paddle, paddle!

Here in the south, we’ve got a great supermarket called Publix. Now they’re not the cheapest, but in my humble opinion they offer the best products and service that I’ve seen - and I’ve lived in many states around the country. Any-hoo, Publix puts out an electronic newsletter, “Publix Greenwise Market Magazine”, all about healthy eating and living.

In a recent edition, the Greenwise Mag offered an article: “5 Fun Ways to Burn 500″ (calories that is!). Items 1 - 4 were: Biking, Swimming, Skating, & Dancing. Coming in at number 5 was…Paddling! Here’s their take on kayaking:

5. Kayaking
Kayaking builds head-to-toe strength, including the critical “core muscles” of the midsection. That’s one reason more people are picking up oars. The number of people who kayaked jumped 23 percent from 2004 to 2005, according to a survey by the Outdoor Industry Association. One of those people is Craig Guillot of New Orleans. “It’s a spiritual experience for me,” he says. “Come Sunday at dawn, if the weather allows, I’m on Lake Pontchartrain.”

Kayaking offers a concentrated workout for the obliques, the side abdominal muscles used to bend over and twist your torso. Expect to burn 150 to 250 calories per half-hour, Huff says. “It depends on what you put into it, whether you’re doing Class 4 rapids or gently moving across a lake.”

If kayaking intrigues you, Guillot recommends checking out a local kayaking club. Keep in mind that there are two types of kayaks - a sit-inside and a sit-atop. Guillot kayaks with a sit-atop because he likes to be able to jump off and take a swim. In colder climates, and on powerful rivers, sit-inside kayaks are more common.

Time to burn 500 calories: 60 TO 90 MINUTES

Now, we’re not plugging Publix for any other reason than we prefer them to other stores. We have no affiliation with Publix, except for shopping there. But we definitely appreciate the fact that they offer an alternative live of “healthier” products.

Paddle on!