Last Updated on November 30, 2020 by KayakPro
I strongly advise taking a First Aid class which includes CPR. Where to find one? Many high school adult-ed programs or area hospitals offer First Aid 
and CPR training.
A course in basic kayaking safety by a certified instructor including self and assisted rescue skills is necessary to get hands on training for emergency situations.
Form good habits from the start – the time you take to prepare can be the difference between a great kayaking day and a bad experience.
Here’s some other smart things to do and have . . .
By now, you know that wearing a Personal Floatation Device – PFD is the number one thing to do. . . kayaking safety 101.
Find out the current weather and forecasted changes … how do you do that?
There are a couple of ways that I know of …
Via the Internet – For weather and current warnings you can go to: www.WEATHER.GOV.
For weather and water temperature go to www.WEATHER.COM – click on Sports & Recreation, then Boat & Beach.
Another way to find the current weather and water temperature is NOAA’s weather radio – NWR (National Weather Radio). It covers 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the U.S. Pacific Territories. Continual broadcasts are aired on the VHF (MHz) bands as follows: 162.400 – 162.425 – 162.450 – 162.475 – 162.500 – 162.525 – 162.550
Float Plan
It’s a good habit to let someone on shore or at home know of your plans. Even if intending to simply paddle for a few hours at the nearest pond – I stick a note on the refrigerator. This is simple kayaking safety.
For longer excursions, leave a more detailed plan with a responsible person. If you plan to make stops, list the different places in the order in which they will be visited. Leave a second copy on your car seat … and call when you’re back on shore. (Creepy perhaps – but not if you need help).
Drinking Water
You will need to carry enough water for each paddler and more in extreme heat. How much? … the rule of thumb is one gallon per day for each paddler.
First Aid Kit
A small air-tight container for a first aid kit dry box is a must-have. I insert my dry box in a zip lock plastic bag and then surround it by two more zip locks for a couple of reasons. First, it assures me that those supplies will remain dry and second, the extra bags double as waste containers or for other purposes during my paddling if needed.
| Aspirin Antiseptic Cream Band-Aids (variety) Bandages or gauze | Antacids Burn Cream for skin Sugared Candy Energy food bars | For an extended trip – Add: Change of warm clothing – fleece Thermal emergency blanket Type IV PFD for throwable float Disposable lighter to make a fire Ice pack |
Here’s a clip about safety gear …
Bright colors
When you buy your kayak and any gear, choose bright colors – they double as a visual signal. Consider bright orange – yellow – bright green. Red is not as visible at long distances.
Flotation Bags
If you’re going to spend any money in kayaking safety gear – wow, float bags are worth your first consideration! Float bags are inflatable cone shapes that clip-fit inside the front and back ends of a kayak to keep it afloat if capsized. I think they’re the coolest kayaking safety item you can have. You can get two standard kayak floats for under $100 – money well spent.
Other must-haves . . .
| A whistle or air-horn | of audible capability per Navigational Rule 35 |
| Float line | with or without clips – used for towing (discussed later) |
| Paddle float | to assist capsize (discussed later) |
| Spare paddle | not required but a good plan for longer trips |
| Directional awareness | of (navigation) and (familiarity with route) |
| Know how to upright a capsize | see discussion at How To Kayak |
| Knowledge of weather | and any forecasted changes |
| Sun protection | sunglasses, hat, sunscreen |
About Alcohol & Stimulants
These just don’t combine well with water sports. First – alcohol will dehydrate your body and impair your judgment as well as accelerate hypothermia. You need to be alert and sharp – leave the stimulants behind.
- Don’t panic
- Stay with your kayak
- Find your paddle – hold on to it
- Float on your back so you can push off any objects with your feet
- Stay upstream in currents – don’t get caught between the kayak and rocks
Focus on getting back into your kayak – how do you do that? . . .
If you or another person capsize, here’s where you’ll wish you took that rescue class. You will need to know basic kayaking safety – self rescue and assisted rescue procedures.
Using self rescue skills, you need to first upright the kayak. Next you will need to re-enter the swamped cockpit using your paddle float to stabilize the kayak. (In an assisted rescue a second kayak acts as a stabilizer.) Then the swimmer kicks to propel their self onto the deck and into the swamped cockpit. Next, secure the paddle – grab the hand pump to get the water out. After the water is out, it can then be paddled to shore.
If you or another cannot re-enter the kayak you will have to tow it. For a more detailed overview of how to upright a kayak, re-enter or tow, see: Kayak-Self-Rescue.
In this situation, you can see how important it is to know safety rescue skills and secure your gear before you start off paddling. Having the gear that you depend on secured to the kayak in an emergency situation is crucial to your rescue.
Here’s a clip re-entering a kayak …
Cold Water Paddling Precautions
In some areas, particularly in early Spring and late Fall, you may get a day where the air temperature is 80 degrees or more. It’s a great day for a paddle – but beware – despite the air temperature – the water temperature could be a frigid 40 degrees. Do you know how quickly hypothermia will overtake you when you’re in shorts and a T-Shirt? Did you leave a Float Plan with someone? . . . This stuff really happens – don’t let it happen to you. Learn and practice kayaking safety rescue skills.
For more details about this, see: Cold Water Paddling.
To Recap . . .
I can’t stress safety enough. Good habits and practiced procedures will help you to save precious minutes in an emergency.
Before you set out . . .
- Take a First Aid class that includes CPR .
- Take a course in basic kayaking safety – find one here.
- Leave a “Float Plan” with someone – here’s a printable: Float Plan
- Directional awareness (where you came from) (where you’re headed).
- Anticipate how you will react in an emergency situation.
- Know exactly where your dry, first aid supplies are.
- Practice how to upright an overturned kayak, see: Kayak Self Rescue.
- If kayaking will be a family activity, each member has to have training and needs to practice the know-how’s.
So there are the basics for kayaking safety and then some!
To find the safety equipment mentioned above, Click Here.Kayaking Safety – Back to Home Page
