How to Prevent Common Kayaking Injuries

Kayaking injuries most commonly injure areas such as the upper extremities--the shoulders down to the hand areas. Back injuries are also common. Kayakers are also vulnerable to skin damage such as sunburns and blisters. Infections can also be acquired, especially when the kayaker is in contact with contaminated water. And since kayaking is an outdoor activity, temperature related injuries are also possible like heat stress and hypothermia. To avoid all these injuries, here are some helpful tips for a safety kayaking adventure.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Safety helmets
• Life jackets
• Wet suit and dry suit
• Gloves
• Water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Signaling devices

Safety Preparatory Measures for Kayaking

1. 

   Boost your overall body function with regular exercise. Always start (warm up) and end (cool down) your exercises with stretching techniques to increase the flexibility of your muscles. Remember to incorporate these activities with rhythmic breathing.

2. Know that conditioning workouts, especially weighted exercises on the upper extremities, are excellent in improving the general strength and increasing the durability of muscles and joints.

3. Consider that aerobic exercises such as swimming, cycling, and running, are beneficial in improving the general endurance of your body.

4. Familiarize the proper techniques for maneuvering your kayak and paddle through the water. Take some kayaking lessons that teach useful paddling techniques such as back paddling and some safety measures on how to handle emergency situations. All of these will improve your kayaking skills and strategies.

5. Observe proper positioning of your body when you do your kayaking moves

6. Protect your skin against sunburn. Apply some water resistant sunscreen (30 SPF or higher) and do it regularly as instructed on the label of the product you are using.

7. Drink plenty of water. Bring your own supply of water and be sure to keep yourself hydrated at all times; this is helpful in pumping up your body’s energy during the activity.

8. Take some multivitamins to help boost your immune system. This will shield your body against infections (that might be present in the bodies of water), and it will also help your body build strong resistance against colds.

Safety Tips on Water and Weather Conditions

9. 

   Update yourself with weather conditions before you go kayaking. Check for heavy rain falls, high water levels, water waves, and wind directions on places you want to go.

10. Gather some informations about the place that you are to go. Ask kayakers about the conditions of the water to find out if it is a safe place or not.

11. Choose a certain area or body of water that is suitable for your own skill and capacity. If you are not that skilled enough, do not go and endanger yourself by paddling on dangerous rapids. Safety should always come first so just stick to places you can handle.

12. Protect yourself against water infections and hazards. Be well informed if the area or the bodies of water you are planning to come across are contaminated with bacteria or infested with harmful creatures such as jelly fish or poisonous water snakes.

Safety Gear Tips

13. 

    Choose the type of kayak that is appropriate for your kayaking activity; and always check it to make sure that it is in an excellent condition before proceeding with your kayaking adventure.

14. Avoid loading your kayak with stuffs that are not needed for your trip

15. Wear a safety kayaking helmet with the following features: (a) built-in visors to minimize the sun’s rays and water splashes from hampering your vision (b) with strong and durable shell to protect your head when in contact with hard surfaces (c) designed with instant drain holes so that you don’t have to bother removing you helmet to drain water on it.

16. Be sure to wear a wet suit, to provide your body warmth against the cold water, avoiding hypothermia. If it is too sunny, wear a light colored long sleeve shirt, with a dry suit on top of it. The long sleeve shirt will minimize the scorching heat of the sun thus preventing excessive heat stress; while the dry suit will help keep your body insulated when in contact with water.

17. Clothe yourself with a life jacket that’s appropriate for your size. This is considered as the most important gear and should be worn by everyone, even by individuals who are good swimmers.

18. Protect your hands against blisters by wearing safety gloves, especially for beginners. Choose gloves that are stretchable to allow finger mobility and also those with excellent grip and paddle control.

19. Provide the kind of paddle that is appropriate for your kayaking activity. If you are to do whitewater kayaking, choose a paddle that’s durable enough to absorb beatings from rapids. And if you go for sea kayaking, pick a paddle that will help in providing a stable and smooth stroke across an open ocean or lake. Choosing the right type of paddle will help in decreasing injuries of the wrists.

20. Equip yourself with signaling devices such as flare guns or hand held flares, water proof flash lights, flags or ribbons (preferably orange colored), whistles, mirrors, dye markers and cell phones with water proof cases. All of these devices are helpful in getting the rescuers' attention if you need help.

Tips & Warnings

• If possible, ask a friend to go kayaking with you, especially if you are a beginner. There is no way of knowing when danger would lurk in the area; so having a buddy with you will always come in handy when help is needed.
• Do not go kayaking late at night unless you are experienced enough to do so. As much as possible, do your kayaking adventure, where you can clearly see your surroundings.
• Do not go kayaking when you have alcohol in your system.

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!