Kayaking injuries don't usually happen when the rapids are rough
(HealthDay News) – Kayaking can be an exciting sport, shooting the rapids of a boulder-filled river, the kayaker enduring the bumps, twists and turns of a hair-raising ride.
And kayaking can also be a serene experience, with a simple row through the current of a calm river or stream, with a gentle breeze caressing the rower as he or she traverses the relatively easy course.
Believe it or not, a kayaker has more of a chance of getting injured during the "gentle" times than when the water is rough.
Dick Wold, five-time United States Surf Kayak Champion and 1993 World Kayak Surfing Champion, doesn't find it at all surprising that a study of kayaking injuries would suggest that most kayakers are hurt on rapids that are rated equal to or lower than their skill levels.
Kayakers rate a river's difficulty from Class I to Class VI, and they rate themselves on the basis of the most difficult level of river they're comfortable kayaking. Class I is moving water with a few ripples and no obstacles; Class VI rivers are nearly impossible and very dangerous, even to expert teams.
Wold says, "When you're on-skill or less, you get bored and you look for ways to spice it up. That's how people get hurt,"
The study appeared in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , and lead author Dr. David C. Fiore, an associate professor and director of and community medicine at the University of Nevada School of Medicine in Reno , says Wold makes a good point. But, adds Fiore, geography also plays a role. Class V and VI rapids are usually more remote, so frequent kayakers often have to settle for less exciting, but more accessible rides, and more rides equal more accidents, says Fiore.
The study surveyed 329 kayakers who said they were on the water at least once a week. Forty percent were never injured, but the others reported 282 injuries over a five-year period. For the most part, the mishaps weren't serious -- scrapes, bruises, tendonitis or, at worst, a dislocated shoulder, and 96 percent claimed a good or complete recovery.
Fiore says only 16 percent of injuries occurred in the more dangerous Class V or Class VI rapids, while 20 percent of the kayakers considered themselves skilled enough to handle those classes. About 20 percent of the accidents were in Class II rapids, while 16 percent of the kayakers rated themselves at that beginner level.
Fiore, whose personal passion is kayaking, says 87 percent of the accidents happened while kayakers were in the boat, rather than after they had fallen out, suggesting that improvements in paddling and steering techniques could make the sport safer.
Whitewater rafting and kayaking are increasingly popular. American Whitewater, a hobby and conservation organization, says more than 2 million people participate each year. The group says their statistics show that the sport is safer than some people think. About three of every 100,000 participants die each year, compared with the rate per 100,000 of 3.2 for rock climbers and 3.5 for scuba divers. And American Whitewater cites National Highway Transportation Safety Administration statistics showing that automobile driving is much more dangerous than any of those sports: More than 15 people die for every 100,000 vehicle-miles traveled.
Risa Shimoda, executive director of American Whitewater, says most kayaking accidents involve people who aren't wearing life jackets, who aren't attentive to water hazards and who use alcohol.
"You can get into a lot of trouble in a little bit of water if you're not paying attention," she says.
On the Web
The U.S. government's National Park service offers a kayak safety program through the Gateway National Park.
SOURCES:
Dick Wold, five-time United States Surf Kayak Champion and 1993 World Kayak Surfing Champion; David C. Fiore, M.D., Associate Professor, Associate Residency Director, Director of Sports Medicine, Director of Community Medicine University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nev.; Risa Shimoda, executive director of American Whitewater, Silver Spring, Md.; August 2001 British Journal of Sports Medicine
Author:
Jennie L. Phipps, HealthDay Reporter
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