Here in central Indiana there have been 18 rescues/recoveries in the last 3 weeks, including a couple of drownings. A lot of kayakers getting in flooding creeks with no PFDs. Don't understand what they're thinking getting in these creeks at flood stage. Please be safe. Wear your life vest!

Where I lived in Wisconsin there was a river popular with tubing college kids. I never saw a single life jacket, but I saw a lot of booze.

Don't think alcohol was a factor in the deaths, news stated of experienced kayakers. Just don't understand why someone would try to float down a flood stage creek. These weren't kids. Its been raining like crazy down here and everything is at flood stage

2 more kayakers were rescued yesterday after they went over a lowhead dam. One in serious condition. At least this couple had their pfds on. Thats 20 rescues in 22 days by Indy Fire Dept. I just don't get it?

Well you are going to probably see more of this as kayaking is getting more and more popular with all of those cheap kayaks at the big box stores. I'm on several kayak and canoe Facebook groups and am always seeing lots of people not wearing their PFDs. The PFDsare always nicely strapped onto the kayak or canoe seat. Going out paddling in flood waters with swift currents people don't realize how easy and quickly they can get into trouble.

Problem areas:

Non existent river reading skills.
Not wearing pfd............I can swim!
Little to no prior experience or training in boating (in any boat).
Alcohol & drug consumption.......you can't have fun unless your drunk and/or stoned,
and with others who are drunk and/or stoned.
Little to no self rescue skills( "HOLLER FOR HELP" SYNDROME ).
The blind to risk, leading other blind to risk participants (sheeple).
River is raging; time to break out the Go Pro, go boating, and make "impress my
friends video.
Poor self control.

In other words: fools being ignorant & killing themselves.

BOB

quote missmolly: "Where I lived in Wisconsin there was a river popular with tubing college kids. I never saw a single life jacket, but I saw a lot of booze. "

Ahh yes, the good old Apple River! Booze and Boobs....those were the days!!!