Whether seeing or boating the HoUSAtonic River in CT or Any Other Venture, PLAN For Safety First!

https://youtu.be/5Zxqsbz_I_U This video popped up  after a while when I was away from my computer having played Caroline Paton's song at Bulls Bridge (likely that was the connection..). Which would you prefer..leading a song with a group of supportive friends or braving whitewater (with training and support mind you, not just winging it since it looks good.) Be wise and thoughtful of your boating or singing buddies...and rescue crew and supplies.

By the way, I know at least one of the fellas in this video whose late Dad, Jamie McEwan,  also was a huge success in the white water boating world winning Olympic medals 20 years apart. There's much to celebrate over the years in forums of folks who love sports and ventures of this kind. Many of them would be the first to say honor the skill with safety. There have been many losses in this sport often due to unforeseen circumstances, but some due to 'playing the edge far too wide', even in clearly unsafe water around the world. So anyone can push the limits and put not only themselves but others at risk in rescue or recovery efforts

. We accept some risk in life just going about our days, and more of a risk doing high speed activities, since we are basically 'water balloon type beings.' Risking head injuries since our brains can be impacted by banging into rocks and even others (such as during a soccer game which led to one youth's death in Florida in the early 2000s) is a good reason to wear helmets for boating or other serious sports. Still not every bump can be remedied and even lighter impacts may be damaging to the brain.

Dr. Amen recommends when in doubt checking it out with a brain scan, even in younger people with behavioral issues. His own relative was saved when a tumor was discovered after the mother told him of concerning behaviors. Let's not let stigma, shame, hopes that people will outgrow behaviors or peers be able to monitor each other allow for mishaps. All minors need to be supervised closely due to the liability risk. Sorry but that's part of a modern day reality in civilized litigous societies. Even eating well will likely be promoted to help youth not be prone to liking alcohol and drugs early on. The chemical effects of the river flowing in our bodies (our bloodstreams) need to be monitored as closely as any river or highway  on which we may venture.

Use common sense (Check with me if in doubt or see my posts on www.livfully.org about minors not being left to make their own plans for dangerous outings due to liability plus voluntary, assumed adult care agreements that no one will let minors or even other adults do things that can be lethal without clear training and support and ideally understanding of water or whatever 'cool, death-defying scheme one or more folks, generally younger guys, dream up'. )

 That said, some of the wild and woolly activities are 'within reach' of many people but again, with training (basic swimming and life-guarding wisdom, basic boating and exit and rescue options, knowing Which kind of water is okay to boat in or swim in...but aware of crazy currents, especially near waterfalls which can cause 'hidden dangers' even in calm water the edge--upriver currents or plunge hole dynamics. 

Okay back to the idea of enjoying a 'reasonable adventure'..The same section of a river can become dangerous with more water, so again, figuring all that out is important and really its one to give more community consideration with input from rescue folks who cannot risk their lives (but have at times) to save others...So let's play this game a lot smarter from the starter.

 Our late teen son Kaelan was drawn to follow in his father's paddling footsteps..and likely would have tried it as many of his friends were aspiring to do even without the longtime family connection. For that reason, wherever there is a river or natural area of interest (hiking trails, rock climbing), a lot of public education should be done to alert the community that 'country folks have a harder time drawing lines what's okay and not okay than city folks, who outnumber them by the millions, do.' 

But a little effort along those lines of Clarification and Communication for citizens and rescue personnel could go a Long Way in Minimizing Risk and Saving Lives. Now back to your viewing from a safe distance of real water and events or more up close on video. As an added note, enjoying nature in bare feet if fun yet even there, some have had close calls with getting cut (during a race in the snow with sleds for instance in Salisbury CT before an annual ski jump a few years back.) 

That man almost bled out due to cut on his ankle...Also even washing dishes or jars which can break and cut a hand ..Wear Rubber Gloves. Speaking of kitchen safety...remember to cut food in small pieces and chew carefully.. you can guess why..and yes, I've saved someone long ago  who was embarrassed to ask for help even with a group of nice folks nearby..so don't die of embarrassment or being afraid of asking for help or admitting you did something 'stupid'. 

We all make mistakes as part of being human...if we get turned into robots we likely will live forever and not be able to think out of the box, so let's enjoy our collective earthly experience and grow wiser as we can and even define new kinds of fun (improv acting, group care for others such as carrying someone on a hike as some fellas did for their pal to see Europe on foot... and who knows what other new far out ventures are dreamed up...) 

Thanks for caring to care and share this post or any on www.livfully.org too. Peace and light and lots of good might to enjoy life safely day and night...  PS Another safety tip is  to not Drink Alcohol At All when driving shortly thereafter. The pilots rule is '24 Hours Bottle to Throttle". Try not to be distracted with phone calls, texting or arguing etc, since those are bigger risks than formally understood. 

Our brain can only do 'one thing at a time' well... so partial attention may be a factor in 'accidents'. Plus other people on the road maybe also being a little off their game, night or factors can add to the tally.

 Even if not a DUI (driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol) , if an accident occurs there can be serious consequences with arrests, fines and if a fatality occurs, an involuntary manslaughter jail term. Most women in prison are there due to being the designated driver who 'only had one or two drinks'. 
One drink puts a woman at the legal BAC (blood alcohol content) limit..and two for a guy. But Buzzed Drinking is Drunk Driving.

 Even being too hungry (think low blood sugar and poor brain function), angry, lonely(especially if prone to falling asleep at the wheel due to monotony  whether long straight roads, being sick or who knows what, maybe elderly, having just eaten a lot, being upset or stressed...), or tired (even of workaday living but sleep deprived or having erratic sleep, care-giving for kids or elders or others in need). 

Some say it's more dangerous trying to Get to the River than being On the River due to the hazards of driving..and even weather or road conditions, branches falling, slippery leaves and other perils..like Those Other Drivers. So again, Think Twice about Venturing out , whose in your car or on your team when you are going places and doing things. Do simple things like let someone know your itinerary and basic coordinates if going out for hikes or other ventures.

 Bring a cell phone which can be a real life saver..and maybe some other GPS finding device as pets have. Now having a safety team in each state promote more self care and shared wisdom would likely up our game as much as any new tech bells and whistles, but why not have those clearly available on any outing too to have a way to alert each other and let people know help Is On The Way (blaring a horn could help someone not try to save the day if they are aware help is arriving... ) Okay for more insight about such things see Remembering Kaelan Alexander Palmer Paton online and let's Think TEAM from the start so we can all have a safer finish.

 When 'stuff happens' anyway, as is always a possibility, maybe a little more learning and insight can be shared as well, with the Care and Share the info Teams to honor those who have been hurt or lost their lives pushing the info and empathy edge. All parents and adults of minors should be interviewed (by law) within 24 hours and as soon as possible to glean insight into where the breaks in understanding of agreements are which contributed to a minor's or even adult's passing.

 Thanks for remembering the Preciousness of Every Life before they breathe their last and make more mindful easy-does-it decisions about How One is Choosing to PLAN to spend one's time..rather than failing to plan and letting possible Failure to safeguard self and others with reasonable parameters Be the Plan. That falls woefully short of our awesome human repetoire of options in this modern world, wouldn't you agree?