Kayak Entrapment in White Water
When paddling on white water we face many hazards. Some of these are environmental and external to us, and others can be minimised by careful selection of clothing and equipment.
‘Snagging hazards’ are pieces of our kit or clothing that can become snagged on objects and result in entrapment. Entrapment can happen quickly and the consequences can be severe – especially if the casualty is entrapped in a position where they can’t breathe. This video shows just how quickly this can happen – even with lots of people around. A paddler has come out of their boat and their shorts snag on a rock-
This paddler was lucky. Although they were trapped in cold water in an exposed position they had no difficulty breathing. They were facing downstream and their head created an eddy allowing them to breathe. You can imagine the difference if they were facing upstream, or slightly lower in the water.
Many years ago, a skilled and experienced paddler capsized on the same rapid. They had a camera fastened to and stuffed down their buoyancy aid. While underwater, the strap of the camera snagged on a small branch and prevented the paddler from rolling up. Fortunately, they had the presence of mind to work out what was happening and unhook the strap. Again, this incident could have had a very different outcome.
So think about your kit. Many people cut off any excess straps or loops from their clothing and equipment. How ‘streamlined’ are you, should you take a swim where snagging is a possibility? And think about how you can improve what you wear to minimise the risk of becoming entrapped underwater.
