Re: Parent involvement in Boy Scouts
Ed Darrell (EDarr1776@AOL.COM)
Thu, 13 Mar 1997 09:51:31 -0500
In a message dated 97-03-12 18:21:14 EST, blainej@JUNO.COM (Blaine A.
Jackson) writes:
<< (A friend had a father come on
a canoeing outing who refused to wear a PFD while on the river. Do you
cancel the whole outing?) >>
Yes, if that's what it takes! I'm more pedantic on this point than others,
due to affect loading, I am sure. I've been expert witness in canoeing
accident cases. I've also been knocked on the head when my canoe went over,
knocked hard enough so that had I not been wearing the PFD AND had a good
lifesaver in the other end of the canoe, this message would be appearing to
you without the aid of a computer . . .
My rules for parents, children and all sentient creatures in a canoe:
1. Everyone wears a PFD properly, always, when in or on the water.
2. Each canoe has an experienced canoeist -- which means that they are also
good, strong swimmers with lifesaving training. Preferably every paddler is
a strong swimmer -- extra precautions are taken whenever anyone who is NOT a
strong swimmer is along.
3. Each trip includes no fewer than two trained lifesavers. They will be in
the same canoe only under exceptional circumstances.
4. Anyone who wants to avoid wearing the PFD must sign a release
indemnifying me, every other individual on the trip, the sponsoring
organization, the insurance company of the sponsoring organization, the canoe
manufacturer, the paddle maker, the PFD maker, the owner of the river, all
EMTs and hospitals, and every other living being on Earth. This release has
a sentence in it that says, "Despite the fact that by not wearing a PFD I
provide evidence that I am non compos mentis, I swear that I really am sane
and I choose not to wear this device of my own free will and death wish. I
think I will enjoy drowning, I really do." This release must be accompanied
by a signed release from the person's medical and liability insurance
companies. I ask for a current organ donor card, and I insist that wills be
up to date.
5. The fourth point didn't convince you? See rule #1. You don't wear the
PFD, you don't go.
Then I tell them the story of the starting cornerback on the
nationally-ranked football team -- the kid from the inner city whose NFL
bonus money would buy his Mom the house she always dreamed of. I talk about
how frightened he looked when he realized how cold the water was. I mention
that his comrades thought a good strong guy like that was joking the first
two times he asked for help, and how helpless and stupid they felt when they
saw him sink out of sight. Do you know how many days it takes for a body to
float back up to the surface? . . .
Wear the PFD! Wear the right one, and wear it properly!
Ed Darrell, Duncanville, Texas
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
