More Thoughts About Rescue PFDs | Ep. 132

[@AnonymousOtters]

Nice follow up. I concur, particularly about having rescue experience first if you are going to carry that equipment. One topic that was just grazed on here is the mentality needed for a rescue. It would be awesome to have your opinions on that. IMO you need to be ready with the head space to perform a rescue before you carry the equipment as well. If not, you are seriously putting others at risk, including the victim, by possibly getting involved in a rescue you are either not fully committed and prepared for, or are over committed to

[@AnonymousOtters]

Zack, perhaps a discussion on risk analysis for both running/scouting rivers and for rescues would be timely. Thanks

[@GearGarageTV]

@@AnonymousOtters That's something I want to get into but it's a complicated topic and I'd need to put a lot of time into laying that out.

[@rogerpalin5864]

Finally, a solid well rounded discussion on the reality of who and why people need these on their harness’. There’s often a combination of looking at the elite performers and roll models of a sport and then the legacy trends from a previous time, that make people want to stick with trends/norms or their aspirations to look a certain way. Look at the amount of cyclists on badly fitted bikes that actually reduce their performance, all because their Tour de France hero sets his up like that! Crazy. As you point out, the changes and challenges are: environment, equipment and efficiency, all require a certain amount of training and understanding, in order to stay safe.

[@SuperGoober64]

Thanks for the follow-up to the previous video, lots of good food for thought!!

[@harrywatsonpaddle]

Good follow up! Ironically the only dislocation (and break) I have ever seen while paddling was on a SWR course. The instructor was demoing a live-bait, he grabbed the “victims” shoulder strap, but unintentionally got it little finger caught the drysuit zipper of the victim.

[@GearGarageTV]

Thanks for adding that story

[@halldorvagn]

Good video, good that you pointed out that this stuff is pretty much useless if you don't have the training :)

[@GearGarageTV]

Yep

[@BladePressure]

It not only is useless, it actually increases risk. Kind of like having a gun without proper skills and legal training.

[@halldorvagn]

@@BladePressure pretty much the point I make when teaching SFR courses. Leave the stuff alone until you've done SRT and then just with people you train with and trust.

[@robgrey6183]

All I want out of a PFD is to float. At 6' and 170 lbs. I don't need to carry any junk. A knife to cut rope and a pocket for chapstick. Done.

[@TypeIIAdventures]

Keep in mind, as rafters get chubbier they are adding buoyancy to their body.

[@Westtxhunt]

What about the 170 lbs that you weigh? That plays into floatation as well 2 - 3 extra lbs of gear does nothing

[@GearGarageTV]

Your body has.a similar density of water so it almost floats. Metal objects are more dense than water so they cause you to sink. It's all about density.

[@GearGarageTV]

Here's an article worth reading www.megainteresting.com/answers/questions-answers/why-do-some-people-float-better-than-others-581573211312

[@patlorch8478]

What jackets do river companies buy for rafting clients?

[@GearGarageTV]

Typically something like this one by Extrasport (amzn.to/2Ab0pvk) or the NRS one thats similar.

[@barrettheywood7826]

Regarding keeping yourself safe: NOLS says #1 I'm number one, #2 what happened to you, #3 no blood on me, #4 are there anymore.

[@GearGarageTV]

Where does NOLS say that?