<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: A Canoeing Instructor's Comments
Review: I have been a paddler since 1973 when my husband and I bought a used aluminum canoe. I surely wished I had Mr. McKown's book back then. In 1982 I became a certified canoeing instructor and have regularly taught canoe classes since that time. This text has sound, all around safety advice for ordinary paddlers. We often think about safety equipment as just the rescue gear like rescue ropes, pulleys, river knives, etc. but Mr. McKown makes you aware of how important proper clothing is also. Survival kits, signaling devices, floatation bags, first aid kits and many other safety items are thoroughly discussed. He tells how to plan for a safe trip and defines all the physical hazards that may be encountered on rivers such as dams, log jams, ledges, high or very cold water, rocks and more. The meat of the book is the river rescue techniques themselves which are well described and illustrated. This is the only book in which I have found an accurate photo of how to hold a canoe for another person who is attempting to reenter the craft from the water. Other river safety books such as "River Rescue" by Bechdel and Ray or "Whitewater Rescue Manual" by Walbridge and Sundmacher have extremely thorough information. All of the authors are nationally recognized water safety experts. However, some of it is of a VERY TECHNICAL nature for which you should have special training to accomplish effectively. On the other hand, McKown's book is written for the every day canoeist with procedures you can rehearse on your own. You will feel much more confident on the rivers and lakes after reading this book and practicing some of the skills. This is a book that myself and the other local canoeing instructors highly recommend to all our student--and to you readers. Happy, AND SAFE, paddling.
<< 1 >>
| 
