Читать книгу Canoeing & Kayaking South Central Wisconsin - Timothy Bauer - Страница 22

It happens to all of us, at least once: Whether you see it coming before it occurs or it blindsides you, at some point you and your boat will go separate ways. So, what do you do? First and foremost, stay calm and relax. Seriously. Overreacting makes it worse.

What you do next depends on the current and the environment. If the water is deep and slow and the river wide and straight, you’ll probably want to swim to your boat and collect anything that fell out (as long as it floats). If the stream is shallow and the current relatively gentle, chances are pretty good you’ll be able to just stand up.

But if the current is strong and the river rocky and deep, do not stand up and try to walk. Your foot could get stuck underneath a submerged rock or tree root, but the current from behind will knock you over—and a combination of current and confinement could be deadly. Instead, make your way over to the shore with your feet out in front of you, your back flat and belly up. Try as well to keep upstream of your boat, so that it doesn’t run into you or pin you against an object.

In the event that you and your boat are pinned against an object in a river, such as a fallen tree or a boulder, always lean toward the object against which you are pinned. The bottom of your boat will act as a buttress against the current; you will be stuck but safe. If you lean into the current, it will drag you beneath the surface and under the obstruction, which can be lethal.

It bears repeating: Stay calm. Don’t let a couple seconds of panic cost a lifetime.