Sea Kayaker Magazine's Handbook of Safety and Rescue

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Judgment and Safety

Judgment; Decision Making; Safety and Risk; Leadership

2. Health and Fitness

Fueling a Human-Powered Craft; Power and Endurance; Medical Conditions

3. Environment

Weather Systems; Personalized Weather Forecast; Local Weather Effects; Waves; Tides and Currents; Local Wave Effects; Forecasting Sea State; Campsites

4. Safety and Rescue Gear

How to Choose Gear; Kayak Safety Features; Paddling Gear; Paddling Clothing; Rescue Gear; Communication Gear; Additional Safety and Rescue Aids

5. Paddling Technique

Adequate Reserves; Skills; Forward Stroke; Brace Strokes; Paddling in Wind and Waves; Paddling in Tidal Current; Paddling in Rough Seas

6. Navigation

Tools for Navigation; Publications; Aids to Navigation; Dead Reckoning; Piloting; Navigating through Tidal Currents; Communicating Your Position

7. Tripping

Paddler's Logbook; Trip Planning; The Trip; Trip Reflection

8. Self Rescue

Rolling; The Wet Exit; Solo Reentry; Getting the Water Out

9. Assisted Rescue

Bow Rescue; Assisted Reentry; Getting the Water Out; Towing; Keeping Together during a Rescue; Damage to the Kayak

10. Guidelines for Effective Rescue

Rescue Decisions; Rescue Priorities

Appendix

Mental Shorthand for Decision Making; Environment and Paddling Levels; Float Plan; Lines and Knots; Kits for Kayaking; Beaufort Scale; Glossary; Resources

Index