Kayaking is one of the most popular outdoor activities which take place in one of the UK's most picturesque wilderness areas - Dartmoor. But if you are thinking of spending some time out on the water in a Kayak or Canoe in Dartmoor it's important you think about your safety before any trip is organised.
Know Your Limits - one of the biggest causes of accidents and problems when people are kayaking is when people are unrealistic about their limits. They'll try and navigate a river that's beyond their abilities or set an unrealistic distance they need to cover which means they become tired and can get lost. Before embarking on a Kayak or Canoeing adventure you really need to be confident in your abilities. Have you undertaken suitable training? Will you be accompanied by more experienced kayakers? Be realistic there's nothing impressive about someone who over-stretches themselves and ends up in trouble.
Hypothermia is always a risk - one of the most common causes of death from Kayaking is where people capsize and suffer from hypothermia. Make sure to take some dry clothes in a sealable waterproof bag or container. It may seem over kill but if it keeps you warm if you get stranded it could be a life saver. Also be familiar with the symptoms of hypothermia, if you or a fellow canoeist seems to be suffering from the symptoms you need to abort your adventure and seek medical attention.
Alone is never as safe as a group - there's something beautiful about being out on the water on your own, just you and nature. But if you're planning something more adventurous or you're not that experienced a paddler you really should get some company for your time on the water. It'll allow you both to look out for each other and if the worst does happen you'll have someone else to call for help.
Make sure someone knows your itinerary - if you're going on a longer trip over multiple days or just covering lots of miles in one day I suggest letting someone know where you plan to be at the end of each day, that way if you don't turn up at the right time in the right place people will know something is amiss and the alarm will be raised much sooner. It's a small piece of forward planning that has saved hundreds of lives over the years, so take the time and write it down for a friend or member of your family.
Be confident in your equipment - in the same way before a long car journey you check your oil level and that the tyres are properly inflated you should have some standard checks on your kayaking equipment. Is the base entirely watertight? Is there some slow deterioration in your equipment that has reached the stage where it's no longer safe? Best case scenario if it fails it could ruin your trip and worse case it could put your safety in jeopardy.
Author Resource:-
John McE writes articles on a number of subjects including kayaking trips in Dartmoor and outdoor activities. For more information see http://www.spirit-of-adventure.com/
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