NYCkayaker Kayak Safety ( paddler rescued near waterfall

[Phil Giller]

We as the kayaking community need to make sure that we are more safety conscious than any other group on the water. There are enough groups already saying that kayakers are reckless and do not need any additional access to the water.
 
Anytime beginners are on the water the safety margin needs to be 1 experienced leader to 5 paddlers MAXIMUM, having 2 experienced paddlers for a group of over 20 paddlers( if the reports in the paper are correct) is asking for trouble. Even if you are right in front of your own dock, you have to realize "water is dangerous"
 
All of our groups want to get as many people on the water as possible; but we must do it in an efficient, safe, organized manner or everyone will feel the consequences
 
Phil