 Technique |
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The
Swimmer's Rescue and Transport Using a single kayak for rescuing a swimmer may be very difficult for anything more than short distances in calm water. An effective technique for carrying a swimmer is to clip two kayaks together with a pair of contact-tow straps. On
rare occasion, kayakers are called upon to rescue someone who has
wound up in the water after losing a kayak or after becoming separated
from some other vessel. The technique I call the "swimmer's
rescue and transport" is designed to get the victim completely
out of the water-especially important when the water is cold-and
carried to shore as quickly as possible. Other
than having the swimmer lie on the back deck, there hasn't been
a reliable system for kayakers to use for rescuing a swimmer at
sea. As Michael and Bill discovered, using a single kayak may be
very difficult for anything more than short distances in calm water. |
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I first thought of this technique after reading an article in the
October 2000 issue of Sea Kayaker magazine. In "Kayaks to the
Rescue," author Michael Powers and paddling companion Bill
Green caught sight of a capsized power boat and found a man floating
in the water nearby. The man was barely breathing and severely hypothermic.
Michael strapped the man on the stern of Bill's kayak. The extra
weight on the stern Bill's kayak made it difficult for him to keep
upright. With the boat so far out of trim, it was also very difficult
for him to maintain a course. Michael clipped a towline into the
bow of Bill's kayak to provide direction and pulling power while
Bill concentrated on bracing. They made very slow progress.