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Subject: TWL: RE: Re: PFD's for children - required
From: Jim Donohue (jim_donohue@XXX.XXX)
Date: Sat Mar 02 2002 - 00:38:54 EST
Well I guess I will set my lance and charge the conventional wisdom. I see
no particular reason why teenagers or adults are more expendable then young
children. Why do we not simply have a rule on persons on board - regardless
of age?
It is clear that certain operational entities, CG among them, have such
rules. Nothing wrong with that - if you are doing hazardous duty the outfit
worn should fit the role.
But back to the rec boater sitting at the dock. Where is the hazard? Is it
age related? Is my 4 year old who swims like a fish and is almost
impossible to drown more likely to be a victim than the drunken 60 year guy
on the the next boat who can't swim (nor walk in his present state)?
If we must restrict why not on the basis of survival liklihood instead of
age? Why not require a certification of swimming ability to ride on a boat
whether stationary or moving without a life jacket? If we are going to
require swimmers to wear life jackets don't we require that they provide
some function? Note that a strong swimmer in a life jacket can only be
significantly aided if it will unconditionally hold his/her head out of the
water. It is also fair to note that such jackets may well prevent survival
if the swim is long and/or difficult. Jackets are fine for non-swimmers but
don't do anyting for those who can survive perfectly well if conscious. So
you go down this slippery slope you quickly ban those jackets that do not
self right and hold the head out of the water.
When my wife began boating with me some 12 years ago we had an unfortunate
incident when she blew it getting on the boat and ended up in the water. I
saved her but only because I was large and strong and did the right things
to get her out of the danger area and to a place where I could get her on
the dock. After that I decided she had to swim well enough not to be in
danger of drowning if she goes in..and that is now the case. She can't swim
a mile but she won't drown falling off the dock - in fact she won't drown
unless hypothermia or something gets her.
Given the resurgence of the right and the taking of responsibility for ones
actions why don't we just leave these things up to the parents and boat
captains. If we are to regulate why not on a performance standard - rather
than pretty much irrelevant age?
I think a lot of this silliness if because we adult boaters don't want to
have to deal with such rules on ourselves and our peers.
Jim
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-trawler-world-list@XXX.XXX
> [mailto:owner-trawler-world-list@XXX.XXX]On Behalf Of Charles
> Culotta
> Sent: Friday, March 01, 2002 7:20 PM
> To: Trawlerworldlist
> Subject: TWL: Re: PFD's for children - required
>
>
> Ken, et al,
> I have always demanded all children, that includes all up to and
> including
> their senior yr. in high school, to wear PFD's when aboard my ski
> boat. Note
> I have the jacket type and not those UNCOMFORTABLE horse collar things. We
> cannot expect kids to want to wear something like that all day.
> The jacket style costs only few dollars more but as the
> commercial says--
> it is priceless!!!
> The payoff was that none ever complained and compliance was never
> a problem.
> CCC
> LETS ROLL
> CHARLES and PAT CULOTTA
> Patterson, La.
> http://www.geocities.com/charlesculotta/
>
>
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