[Awclist] Pool Insurance requirements

[Dave Fuller]

Mary Scofield wrote:
> We have recently been notified that ACA insurance requires that pool 
> session attendees wear pfds when in the water.  Starting this evening 
> please bring your pfds.
> Thanks for your compliance with this.
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If it's just me let me know, but I think this is a unreasonable and 
unhelpful requirement.   People learning to swim don't have to wear a 
PFD for swimming lessons?   I think this is just another example of 
liability paranoia that only makes it harder and more expensive for a 
beginner to try out kayaking.  Is there any historical data on people in 
swimming pools with PFD's being safer?   Or did some corporate attorney 
just make this up?   It makes it hard on instructors and the club by 
having to bring yet another piece of gear before letting someone try out 
a kayak.  My fear is that this will be one one more issue in a long line 
of things.   Next year maybe we'll need a CPR certified instructor at 
every pool session,  then the next year some other piece of safety gear 
or person present.  I predict that the ACA will continue to bend under 
the weight of liability fearing insurance providers and eventually make 
it too difficult and expensive  to operate simple pool kayak training or 
a kayak club.   There maybe nothing we can do about it or that it is not 
worth doing anything about it.   Perhaps some of the attorneys in the 
club can set me straight.   I know for me personally this makes me 
another step farther toward not wanting to come to the pool and help 
train a beginner.

-Dave Fuller