If you combine scouting the open coast with an analysis of each person’s capabilities, what have you got? Risk assessment—a key safety element of every sea kayaking endeavor, especially on the exposed coast, which by its nature is fraught with danger. And while we want to be exposed to some risk, as that is where fun and learning occur, we don’t want to be unprepared for it.
My essay on scouting details how to do that essential task, so check it out. Today, I’ll focus on the other main factor of risk assessment—a comprehensive evaluation of each kayaker’s ability to participate in the risk levels revealed by scouting. One aspect of a kayaker’s pre-embarkation preparation is equipment, starting with the boat. Assuming your boat is appropriate for the activity at hand, go over your checklist to make sure your boat is shipshape. See that the hull integrity is good, and the hatch covers are properly sealed, deck lines are secured, flotation bags are inflated, rudders and other hardware are operating correctly, gear is watertight and properly stowed, and the like.
Check your paddles for cracks and chips. Be sure your clothing (PFD, drysuit, wetsuit, helmet, etc.) is adequate for the conditions. A good way to ensure your clothing is okay is to put everything on and jump in the water. Read my essay on testing your clothing and personal gear before kayaking. Also make sure you brought your ancillary gear such as rescue items, GPS, VHF radio, water, food, etc. Again, go down the list and check each item off.
Next, evaluate each person’s skill level. Does each kayaker have what it takes to safely paddle in surf, rocks, rough water, wind, fog, caves—whatever your scouting revealed? For instance, does each person have a powerful stroke? How about bracing and rolling skills? Recovery and rescue proficiency? Special skills needed for the conditions such as surfing or landing on rocks? Auxiliary skills such as navigation and first aid?
Then check out each person’s physical state. Of course everyone should know about everyone else’s long-term injuries and illnesses long before going to the seashore, but new things can crop up at the last second. What if someone hurt her back taking boats off the car? What if someone had a fever the day before, or is hungry, or on new meds, and so forth?
The last and hardest part is assessing the mental health of each person on the outing. Oftentimes people are unaware or in denial of their emotional and mental states. So after checking yourself to see if you are experiencing fear or anxiety or anger or doubt or confusion, ask the other participants how they feel. Look at each person to make sure they all look cool, calm, and collected.
Risk assessment should be done as a team, before getting on the water, regardless of who is the official leader. This is especially important in a class, tour, or outing with newcomers, where everyone doesn’t know their paddling mates very well. Even Tsunami Rangers, who have been paddling together for decades, quickly check each other out before committing to the water. You never know who might have failed to properly close his hatches or have forgotten to bring a paddle. It happens. In fact, we have messed up on hatch closing which caused us to end a week-long tour early, and we once left all the paddles in the front yard—which made us have to go for a hike instead of a paddle.
If anyone is not ready with their equipment, skills, or physical or mental states, then it may be possible to fix it or adjust to it. If someone forgot a paddle, perhaps a buddy has a spare. If someone lacks skill to land in surf, make a group decision to assist that person as a team when the time comes. If someone has a hurt knee, carry his boat. If a person has a gut feeling that something is wrong or is afraid to do the activity, ask her to describe her feelings and get to the bottom of it. Perhaps reassurance is all that is needed to make her feel better. Then go out and have fun.
But what if you can’t reasonably fix or adjust to a problem? What if a doofus drops his boat off the car and the kayak splits in half down the middle, and no one has a spare boat that is right for that guy? How about someone who is a good roller but a poor swimmer and is facing 8-foot surf at a river mouth for the first time? What if a bloke gets a bad case of the runs? What if a so-called surf expert takes one look at the inviting surf and complex rock garden you were going to paddle in that day and snivels, “I’m not going in there! No! NO! N-O-O-O-O!!!”
There is always risk associated with kayaking on the open coast, but what if your assessment reveals insurmountable risk as in the above paragraph? It’s time to go to Plan B. You have several options available. The person(s) not able to undertake the risk can stay on the beach and watch (a very good and underutilized choice). You may be able to break up your group into pods; one pod does the more dangerous stuff, and other pods partake in safer activities. Or, you can simply go to another place that’s within an acceptable risk level that day.
These are easy solutions, but sometimes momentum stymies good judgment and propels people into dangerous situations. This is why, when I teach an open coast class, we NEVER RUSH to the water and launch. We always slow down and scout using the Sea Conditions Rating System (SCRS) and couple that with a current assessment of our readiness individually and as a group. At the end of the day, students evaluate the class and often someone reports that time was “wasted” by spending an hour scouting and assessing. I can live with that criticism, and I’m not going to change our procedure, no matter how tedious it seems to eager beavers compelled to get on the water as fast as possible.
It’s true that one cannot foresee or prepare for every risk imaginable, but risk assessment can pinpoint probable events and help you manage them so they don’t become preventable calamities. Extra time spent in assessment at the beginning of the outing will result in a safer, more fun day on the water.
Did I leave anything out that’s important in Risk Assessment? Please relate your procedure for analyzing risk when sea kayaking. I’ll be happy to answer any questions or discuss anything in this essay. I’d also love it if you shared your “assessment” stories. It’s easy, just post your comment below the essay.
Moulton Avery says
Excellent post, Eric! In answer to your question – those two blokes in the photograph both look like they not only found the bottle of bourbon shown in the preceding photograph, but found it to be very good, indeed. Per your checklist, they both look calm and cool, but I have my doubts about whether they fit into the “collected” category. I’ll probably have more to say about Risk Assessment when I’ve had another cup a joe.
Rainer Lang says
Many good points Eric!
I would add the importance of ongoing communication within the team. As conditions permit, either verbally or through hand signals.
I’ve noticed that sometimes people get really quiet: when they’re scared, fatigued, zone out, and or are hypothermic.
I like to keep a dialog with people in my team, kind of an ongoing assessment. This can be an indicator if someone’s mental state, or physical condition changes. I’ve had to talk a few people through situation, that I knew they could physically manage, yet they got either freaked out or lost their self confidence and froze up.
I’m also an advocate for Plan B.
Like the time Andy and I portaged our river kayaks back to the launch at Half Moon Bay, instead of bucking 45+ kt winds.
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I really like these posts, keep ’em coming!
Dave Fitzgerald says
A very well thought out and valuable piece of writing.
Some other things that are commonly considered: Is there an escape route, how quickly and safely can you get someone to shore if they are injured or sick or if equipment fails. Can you reach emergency help and how long would it take to get there.
Moulton Avery says
It seems to me that the concept of Risk Management can be broken down into three discreet elements involving sound planning, realistic assessment, and effective communication, each of which is vital to the overall safety of any outdoor activity. One of the things that really fascinates me when reading all those depressing incident reports, is that in the vast majority of cases, virtually all of the major problems and mistakes could have been averted by paying closer attention to these three elements.
I like to refer to the first element as Margin-for-Error planning. It should take place before – often long before – the trip begins. The margin-for-error planning process, as its name implies, is designed to give you as much “wiggle room” as possible should something go wrong. It’s what separates those who take calculated risks with finesse from those who take uncalculated risks and blunder into trouble. This type of planning involves trying to imagine all the things that could possibly go wrong, and then making sure that you’re really, truly prepared to deal with every single one of them. If you’re largely clueless about what can go wrong, you’re going to be at an obvious disadvantage here.
The second element, the subject Eric discusses in this post, is Risk Assessment, a critical activity which should take place at the put-in before so much as a toe goes in the water. Lots of folks, many of whom know better, get sloppy, lazy, or excited at launch time and gloss over this important step or, worse yet, skip it entirely.
The third element is candid, clear, and open communication both off and on the water. We need to do more in the sea kayaking community to promote the value of a simple agreement among paddlers that it is the duty of any paddler who feels that little (or big) tug of warning, doubt, insecurity, misgiving, or discomfort to speak up. In turn, it is the responsibility of the group as a whole and individual paddlers in particular, to respect and encourage that kind of discourse, and give those feelings a respectful hearing whenever they’re raised. Whether it’s an individual problem or something potentially involving the entire group, everyone will be better off when things are out in the open.
In my view, these three elements form the bedrock foundation of a paddler’s “safety net”, and neglecting or short-changing any one of them opens a hole in the net that whales could swim through.
Eric Soares says
Thanks everyone so far–Rainer, Dave, and Moulton–for your excellent suggestions. I’m paying attention.
What Moulton calls “margin-for-error” planning is often called “strategic” planning in business and military and other organizational circles. I have heard it called “armchair” planning, which I like, because it can be done from the comfort of an easy chair. “No pain, no ‘splain.”
I didn’t touch on the communication elements, as Rainer and Moulton brought up, but I agree with them 100%. Since I have a Ph.D. in communication, perhaps I’ll write about it in a future post. 🙂
Dave’s emphasis on “what to do when we screw up” is important. “What is the rescue and first aid protocol?”, we should ask–before we need to put it into action.
Scott Becklund says
Great stuff Eric,
To Moulton, I like that more and more often I hear groups doing much of this. Particulaly when “candid ,clear and open” communication is needed.
Many times I have been a on a beach wondering about my paddling partners. Once I was sure a close dear friend had no business paddling but was he was committed. As a group it was discussed. I was assured he was making a decision he could handle. Eric and Jim offered to shepherd and help and as much as anything assure me. As it was, I was perhaps over vigilant. But I was able to enjoy being on the water that day. Had I not expressed my concern and Eric having us talk it though it would have been a much different day.
Moulton Avery says
That’s a great story, Scott, and I’m really glad you shared it. I really do think we’re making progress on that front. I’ve never been burned by anyone for being clear, open, honest and candid, but looking back over my life, I can certainly point to many occasions where, by playing the cards closer to my vest, I wound up burning myself.
I’ve also never regretted being too vigilant, or safety conscious, or infatuated with checklists and meticulous planning, or cautious about my choice of paddling partners, but every single time I’ve made the mistake of being lazy, sloppy, or complacent about those things, it’s come back to bite me in the ass.
John Kirk-Anderson says
Great post, as usual Eric.
All I can add is that the first question I ask when going paddling is “Why?”
I have found that is a question that is seldom asked, but assuming that everyone would answer it the same seems to be a cause of problems for groups. When some of the group turn up with adventure racing kayaks, carrying wing paddles, wearing Lycra and sporting 1% body fat, and the rest are in fat plastic touring kayaks and carrying cameras, there’s a problem right there.
Finding out people’s expectations is sometimes overlooked in the planning process.
Keep the comments coming folk, a fantastic resource is being developed here.
Cheers
JKA
Eric Soares says
JKA, Your vision of lycra and racing kayaks versus fat plastic kayaks and cameras is funny. Yet you bring up an important point–expectations. When my own group of friends go out together, we pretty much have the same expectations. But when we go out with people we don’t know, such as in an “Open Coast” workshop, I ask in writing weeks before the class so I have an idea of who expects what. In my last class, I had one person who wanted to surf, surf, surf, and another who wanted to learn to read waves in rock gardens. We talked it over at the put-in and figured out a way to do both and the class went better because of it.
As Moulton would probably say, communication about expectation is a good thing.
gnarlydog says
“Risk assessment should be done as a team, before getting on the water, regardless of who is the official leader. This is especially important in a class, tour, or outing with newcomers, where everyone doesn’t know their paddling mates very well.”
Very good point.
I learned the hard way that the “self assessing” policy that is advocated in my (ex) Club is bogus. Peer pressure, false expectations and unrealistic perception of one’s skills result often in a sticky situation, occasionally a disaster (or near disaster).
I agree: the assessment should be collective as many eyes/heads can do a much better job than just one person.
Eric Soares says
You bring up a good point, Gnarlydog. Self assessment is a difficult thing for many people. No one wants to look bad or be a wimp or go against one’s cultivated self-image and persona. So people refuse to look at themselves objectively and instead put on a front. That’s why I always look carefully at each person’s face. Often their eyes or pallor will indicate one thing though they say another. Gentle probing will sometimes help the person get to their true feelings and thoughts.
And there’s the Groupthink factor: you have to go along to get along–don’t rock the boat. So the result is no one speaks up when they have niggling doubts about some aspect of the venue (e.g., expectations, escape routes, skills, fear, etc.). Ideally, the leader(s) should encourage everyone to speak up, as Rainer and Moulton mentioned, as good, clear, honest communication is usually the best policy–in potential life-and-death situations. But if the leader doesn’t encourage comments and analysis, then someone in the group should ask about it, especially if they harbor doubt.
I usually paddle only with Tsunami Rangers and selected guests, as I’m very careful who I go out with. It’s nothing against anyone, I just want to make sure I’ll be with people who will loudly speak up. I don’t get offended. I also want to paddle with others whom I know through and through (I know their skills, weaknesses, courage level, and so forth). Very seldom do I tour with others who are new to me.
Doug Lloyd says
Risk management is the buzz word for me. That entails risk assessment for sure, which starts with identifying the risk factors, assessing their potential for a negative outcome, and then finding strategies to reduce those risks or possibly avoid them depending on the risk versus reward paradigm one has set for themselves or the group or the class. These are the key points for any outdoor activity where objective and inherent hazards exist. What I like about these types of posts Eric makes is that he helps makes these notions more pragmatic and less pedantic. Assessing the participants, their boats and gear, and the intended venue for the outing as part of risk assessment is huge and Eric makes practical suggestions for those considerations as well as helps us to remember to give pause and actually do the math (the recent Morley incident showed the importance of such assessment being done before hitting the water).
One might argue that to place oneself or a group of paddlers purposely into a risk-strew environment is the exact opposite of seamanship and thereby encourages or forces the use of unique risk-reduction strategies like the use of redundant body armour. I’m sure the Tsunami Rangers are well aware of these perceptions and criticisms as levelled against them over the years. But risk assessment remains an integral part of safety no matter what type of paddling you CHOOSE to do within your risk aversion ceiling. And the process is the same for everyone.
What I have found, and what Moulton has helped me to understand and appreciate more fully through discussion on other internet venues, is the role our brain and emotions play in the risk assessment process. After reading more about the subject I’d finally figured out the missing part of the equation. People, gear, communication, boats, levels of experience, hard skills, the environment – all tremendously important factors yes, but it is all filtered through the brain and clouded by emotions. And that’s something a little more difficult to write about in a practical manner.
Eric Soares says
I agree with everything you say here, Doug. Well spoken.
As to the “redundant body armour” that we sometimes wear and others may have criticized (must’ve been behind our backs as no one has mentioned it to my face), what can I say? I love the stuff. I like to experiment with various ways of protecting my body in the environment I choose to play in. And in a few weeks (after I come back from Hawaii), I’m going to write a post on that very subject–The Evolution of Body Armor for Sea Kayakers. Stay tuned!
And you are so right about the factors that are “filtered through the brain and clouded by emotions.” It is difficult to write about (see my response to Gnarlydog, above). I hope to tackle that subject in the future, but it will require more pondering on my part.
Tess says
Hi Eric,
A timely post as I head off to a river somewhere for a mini adventure with my brother and a mate. It’s not open coast, but risk assessment is still a priority. For the best part of a week, we’ll be navigating a remote section of river that includes a hint of whitewater (a new experience for me).
Great comments as usual Eric and all.
Tess
Eric Soares says
Enjoy your river outing, Tess! And yes, risk assessment and management is just as important on the river. Since many river boaters paddle on some gnarly stuff, assessment has evolved into an everyday activity for them. We sea kayakers could learn a lot from river kayakers in the assessment arena.
Dan Lewis says
Great post Eric, thanks. I think some great issues are being touched on.
I spend a lot of time paddling with students, many of whom I’ve never paddled with.
No-one wants to be the weak link, the one who says ‘no’ and ruins it for everybody. But of course if a paddler heads into conditions they can’t handle and a scenario ensues, that really DOES ruin the day for everybody, and no doubt in retrospect the group would agree ‘it would have been better to find out Frank was freaking, we could have done something else—anything would have been better than losing (a boat, Frank, whatever)”.
So how do you draw out that little niggling voice that is saying ‘no’? First, you have to create an environment where that voice is welcome. We establish a protocol with groups, because we are an artificial conglomeration of people who have come together to learn, that ‘NO’ means ‘NO’. If anyone has any doubts about the plan, they must take personal responsibility for expressing those doubts. The group’s responsibility is to cheerfully accept everyone’s input, even though that means the plan for the day might be scuttled. Sometimes there are easy solutions that meet everyone’s needs without significantly altering the plan.
One way to encourage people to speak up is to remind them they are not alone—if one person is thinking ‘this plan is nuts’, it’s very unlikely that no-one else is starting to wonder as well. Usually when one person has the courage to say ‘I’m scared”, you will see other people’s faces melt, as they realize they are not the only person who is wanting to pull the plug.
Hard enough on a week long course—much harder when you have paddled a week to get to your crux, and you know that you may not be able to get back for years, if ever.
The bottom line is that gear can be replaced, people cannot. Nothing is fun enough to risk losing lives.
Eric Soares says
Thank you for some very useful suggestions, Dan. I agree that people cannot be replaced. Of course, sometimes risking your life is what the activity is all about. Then it’s especially important that everyone speak up, and that the climate and culture of the group is that being frank is the norm. It would be tragic to do a risky activity and let some hazard that could have been fixed go by–because no one spoke up. There is a difference between “risk” and “foolish risk.” Determining which is which is what group communication and risk assessment & management is all about.
Hether Hoffmann says
I attended my first symposium when I was 3 months pregnant and my second symposium when my son was 5 months old. I was quite used to telling the group leaders and instructors what was my current situation was. I have acquired many skills since then, but I am still very aware of and willing to be frank about any issues. I am very lucky to paddle with many folks Chicago community who have helped me learn how to plan overnight trips, navigation, and pre-launch safety checks. While adventure, fun, and risk are all a part of kayaking, balance and taking a break on the beach are always decent options.
Eric Soares says
It’s good to see that a mom gets out there and kayaks. And yes, especially when pregnant, it’s important to let your fellow group members know!
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