Kayaking is a wonderful experience that every outdoor enthusiast should get to check out at some point in their life. But the truth is that if you are going kayaking for the first time, you will have to take the proper safety precautions. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking they are just going on a boat and it is no big deal. But if you make a mistake while you are kayaking and you have not taken the relevant precautions or safety measures, you will find that you are in a very dangerous or potentially fatal situation. It is why we have created a mini guide that will help you kayak safely if you have never been on such an adventure before.
No Drinking
The first rule is one that should go without saying. If you are planning to drink alcohol on the day that you are going out, you should not be kayaking. It is just a bad idea to paddle when you are tipsy or drunk. You may think that you are being fearless and you are still in complete control, but you are not. Think of it as the same as driving when you are intoxicated. Sure, you are not going to hit another car, but you could seriously injure or kill yourself kayaking when you are drinking. You are also putting the life of someone else at risk if you are kayaking with a partner, friend or family member.
Life Jackets Are a Must
There is no reason why you should avoid a life jacket if you want to go kayaking. A lot of people think they are brave if they are going without a life jacket. You may fancy yourself as being a great swimmer and you believe that you will have no issues with the water. But the truth is that you cannot know how you are going to end up in the water and at what angle. A life jacket is the best way to ensure that no matter what happens, you have a way of easily floating back onto the surface.
Dress Appropriately
Make sure that you are dressed properly when you are going kayaking. Not only do you need to take into account the temperature in the air when you are kayaking, but you must also think about the water. Say you are kayaking when the water is very cold, you will not want to be so lightly dressed that you get hypothermia. Also make sure that you have a waterproof backpack where you have packed extra clothes that you can put on if you do get wet!
Stick To Your Level
Our final tip is one that beginners will not enjoy. It is that you must stick to your skill level. It is so tempting to think that you are some type of natural. You are going to get into the water and blow everyone away. It will be no problem for you to handle the tougher courses. That is what everyone thinks of themselves.
But the reality is that you will just end up hurting yourself or others. If you are a beginner, stick to the beginning locations. Do not try the intermediate ones until you have at least been on a few kayaking trips. Then you can be brave. But in the beginning, it is always best to err on the side of caution. You will want to have fun while not taking too much of a risk. The harder paths are very challenging and even though it can seem fine at first, you will eventually run into an area that you cannot navigate successfully as you do not have the relevant skills.