Page 13 - Louisiana Loop (manuscript Edition)

This picture shows a typical kayak rolled over and
pinned held by a mild undertow and tidal port current
that being “hard shell” may have fractured the hull and
the threat of sinking is severe. In my case the slope of
the barge is closer to what I actually experienced but
the current and rush of water to the left and under the
barge was more severe. Canoes typically do not
survive these encounters but sink. Ocean kayaks
usually have hull failure at stress points. “Play” or tiny
whitewater hard shell kayaks even in severe current
will likely extricate themselves with several typical
maneuvers. Though I had a whitewater class iv kayak,
it typically does not roll over unless extreme conditions
apply. My kayak actually freed itself and traveled on
down river.

Rescue in best of circumstances fully prepared is
challenging due to several factors involving the
person being rescued. Was there injury on impact
or secondary issues like water temp, drowning,
heart attack etc. PFD’s of course are crucial to this
and while a good PFD is always better than none, it
does assure you of flotation and even with a PFD a
person can be sucked under water by water
dynamics, vortex, whirlpool, current or even simple
exhaustion or a odd phenomenon where the
floating aspect pins a person underwater where a
kick out or swim out is needed unless as in rivers a
wing dam or current obstruction creates a scenario
holding floating objects under water. In my case
the current pushing under the corner of the barge
parked at an angle was both downward and
outward around the undertow.

No can predict when a person will actually get into an
emergency situation, we can predict human error up to 6
decimal points called six sigma and as such people can
train and prepare for emergencies by expecting mistakes
to happen. No kayaker, paddler, water craft person or
anyone on the River really expects it to happen to them
no matter who often or how little they encounter it. The
rule of thumb is to prepare as best you can, but
absolutely do not panic. Split second decisions will lead
to life or death in crisis and if it leads to living it was not
a wrong choice. You cannot after the fact change the
facts of what occurred. You can only use the experience
as a “teaching moment” to prepare yourself or others in
case they too may find themselves having to overcome
what you just went thru. The only bad experience is the
one that gets you killed.