[Awclist] Pool Insurance requirements

[Dave Fuller]

Pool and river are different thing!  I'm big on river safety (actually 
safety of all kinds) and safety gear .  I can see having a beginner who 
has worked his roll wearing one to get used to the movement with a PFD 
but actually being safer in the pool?  No way.   I could come down to 
the pool wearing all my creeking impact gear and full face helmet etc. 
and play the game of looking safer but would I be "safer"?   I would do 
it though if it would relax the rediculous requirements of self 
insurance to get in the pool.

Kelly Gossett wrote:
> I think this is a good thing. Granted - it is one more piece of 
> equipment the instructor has to bring, and I have about 4x more boats 
> than PFDs...but - this is the way I paddle on the river, the way I 
> teach, and the example I set for those new to the sport. Two-thirds of 
> all canoe & kayaking deaths since 2000 could have been prevented if 
> the paddler was wearing a PFD.
(Of course IN the RIVER.)
>  
> Among other things, it sends a message to the city that the AWC takes 
> safety seriously. I've always felt that the city's requirement to be 
> self-insured is a bit ridiculous (kayakers are tax-payers too). With 
> this new requirement, and a little time, it is possible the city would 
> reconsider its self-insured requirements. Removing this restriction 
> opens boating up to a much larger number and removes one of the most 
> prohibitive cost (required ACA membership), making it more accessible 
> and cost effective for those new to the sport. I'm all in favor of 
> insurance our other events, and avoid liability like the pleague, but 
> if other cities throughout NM and the US allow kayakers to paddle in 
> the pool for a nominal $4-7/night, then I believe ABQ should consider 
> this as well.
>  
> As for your predictions about the ACA's future...
> A recent study by the National Marine Manufacturer's Association lists 
> kayaking as the fastest growing water-sport...and has the highest 
> number of casualties. There is (and always has been) talk of requiring 
> people who buy new boats to take an intro lesson, or a marine safety 
> course. I have mixed opinions about this, but generally always support 
> anything that increases safety and awareness. Their intent, cost of 
> the class, execution of the plan, etc is debatable. Time will tell how 
> the story unfolds....
>  
>
> */Dave Fuller <nn5k at mac.com>/* wrote:
>
>     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
>
>
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