Water Safety

Let's face it, Water is dangerous stuff. Drowning is a terrible way to go and we have lost several friends due to accidents that could have been prevented. Almost all of them have been due to foot entrapment issues. Foot entrapment usually occurs in swift moving water when you become stuck and the water current holds you under. Almost all the others are due to people being intoxicated while on the water. In these findings I wanted to post our obligatory water safety guide here in the C&K boards but I would also like it to be understood that this guide should be applied in all situation while in or around waterways.

1: Personal Flotation Device - I know that nobody likes to wear them because they keep you from getting your suntan just so and they can be hot. Simply put though if you are knocked out or are somehow in a situation where you are otherwise incapacitated this is your best chance of survival.

2: Don't drink or use other intoxicants on the water - Not trying to be a buzzkill here but while the beer float is something of a time honored tradition here in Alabama I would just like to point out that your odds of making a bad decision go up exponentially when you are even just having a couple. Because you have to make fast decisions sometime on the water it's best to party after you hit shore.

3: In moving water keep your feet up - As stated before foot entrapment is the cause of the bulk of wilderness drownings in Alabama every year. The rule is that if the water is above your knees and moving you should have your nose and toes up. grap your boat or tube and swim to shallow nonmoving water.

4: Helmets - If it is water and it has rocks in it you should wear a helmet. Support our local manufacturer "Shred Ready".

5:Good judgement - If you don't know what the water is like on a stream don't be afraid to get out and scout it before you go down it. Go with someone who has done it before. But most of all dont be pressured into "just doing" something without looking first.

Ok I am gonna step down off the soapbox now. Feel free to add to this list via this thread.

M