Kayak safety: buoyancy aids, cold water shock, weather, tides and paddling with others

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Most kayaking trips are calm and uneventful, and good habits keep them that way. The common factors in incidents are familiar: no buoyancy aid, cold water, wind or tide that was stronger than expected, and nobody else around. This guide goes through each one.

Wear a buoyancy aid, always

A buoyancy aid (sometimes called a PFD, personal flotation device) is the most important piece of kit you own. Wear it on every trip, done up, on calm days as well as rough ones. Capsizes happen in an instant and there is no time to put one on in the water.

Choose one designed for paddling, which leaves your arms free to move.
Fit it snugly: with it fastened, someone should not be able to lift it up over your chin by pulling on the shoulders.
Use the pocket to carry a phone in a waterproof pouch and a whistle, on your body rather than on the boat.

Cold water shock and the advice to float

Sudden immersion in cold water triggers cold water shock: an involuntary gasp and uncontrollable fast breathing, with a jump in heart rate and blood pressure. The gasp can make you inhale water, and the panic makes people thrash and swim hard, which is exactly the wrong response. The RNLI counts water below 15°C as cold and says UK seas are cold enough to cause cold water shock all year round. Rivers, lakes and reservoirs can be colder than they look, especially in spring. The RNLI's Float to Live advice, if you end up in the water unexpectedly, is:

Fight your instinct to thrash around or swim hard.
Lean back, with your ears in the water, and extend your arms and legs.
Gently move your hands and feet to help you float. It is fine if your legs sink.
Concentrate on getting your breathing under control.
Once your breathing is controlled, call for help or swim to safety.

Researchers who study cold water have described the worst of the shock response passing in about a minute or so, which is why floating and waiting is better than swimming for it. Practise floating in a pool so it feels familiar. Your buoyancy aid does most of this work for you, and the right clothing (a wetsuit or drysuit in cold water) reduces the shock itself.

Weather and wind

Check the forecast before you go and again on the day, paying attention to wind strength, gusts and direction.
Offshore wind blows from the land out to sea. On a beach the water can look flat and inviting while the wind quietly carries you away from the shore. Avoid paddling in offshore winds.
Wind against you on the way out is the safer plan, so it helps you home.
Watch for changes while you are out. If the wind picks up or the sky darkens, head in early.

Tides and moving water

On the coast and in tidal rivers, the tide can move water faster than a beginner can paddle. Check tide times, know which way the water will be flowing during your trip, and plan around it. Headlands, river mouths and narrow channels often have stronger currents. On rivers, learn to recognise and keep away from weirs, fallen trees and other obstructions that water flows through but people cannot. These are serious hazards and are best learned about from a coach before you need to know.

Paddle with others and tell someone

Paddle with at least one other person, ideally more, and stay close enough to help each other.
Tell someone on land where you are going, when you will be back and what to do if you are not.
Carry a means of calling for help that works when you are wet: a charged phone in a waterproof pouch on your body, and a whistle. On the coast, a VHF radio is worth learning to use.
In the UK, if you or someone else gets into trouble at the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Know your limits

Stay within your skills, the group's skills and the conditions. A course with a qualified coach teaches capsize drills, rescues and how to read water, and it is the quickest way to become a safer paddler. Turning back is never a failure. Safety advice is updated from time to time, so check the RNLI and your national paddling body for current guidance. What safety habit has served you well? Share it in the comments below.