I certainly back any way we can help paddlers be safer.  It’s something we talk about quite frequently actually.   So when I got a funky little card for the North American Safe Boating Campaign I was certainly interested.  But does this really save lives?  I often wonder.  

In politics people who think too deeply about an issue are called “wonky”.  (in the UK of course, "wonky" has more to do with that broken wheel on a shopping cart) These are the folks who browse about 20 websites an hour and read the fine details of every position paper and know the ins and outs of every scandal.  This year a simple test is to ask someone if they’ve visited the website, “Obama is your New Bicycle”.  If they have, they are defiantly a bit wonky!  Now there is nothing wrong with being informed but political wonks are also living in a very insular world.  They are a minuscule part of the population.  Most voters on the other hand vote based on party allegiance or the "bread and butter" issues. Decisions are usually based on "talking points" and not any sort of real detail. It’s just the way it is.  Wonks, no matter how well intentioned are often having conversations about things that no one but another wonk would care about.

That leads me of course to this little card from the Safe Boating Campaign.  Of course I’m going to visit the website and read all the details.  By the way that weird blue guy that looks like a combination of a 1950’s instructional animation and that frozen angel from Akira Kirwasawa’s “Dreams” is pretty cool.   But as a paddler, I’m also a bit well, wonky.  Chances are that the person who’s most apt to not wear is PFD is never going to actually see that fun flash animation saying it’s “Easy to wear it”.   They will never actually visit the website or listen to the speeches. The problem with many outreach programs is that they tend to be preaching to the choir, and to really improve safety we have to reach out to those who will NOT be looking for the information.   Speeches, posters, stickers and websites I fear just won’t do that.   They all just become part of the clutter of our over stimulated lives.  The word “safety” is just one of those dead phrases that sounds good but does not translate very well to those people who most need the message.  I really wonder that those who are most at risk will actually take part in a  “Be A Survivor” contest.  

It seems to me that there are a few problems with promoting boating safety.  First is that we don’t take into account why paddlers don’t take proper measures.  Rarely is it because they’ve never heard of a PFD. Awareness is not, in my opinion, the issue.  Usually it’s because they justify not having one.  Second, like seat belts and motorcycle helmets it’s an issue of individual rights and habit.  In America maybe more than other places, we just don’t quite accept authority.  Individualism is part of our core character.  Nothing particularly wrong with that but it can close ears. As soon as someone get’s all “wonky” on us, we shut off.  A recent article I read (can’t find the bloody link at the moment!!) pointed out that many of us will tune out to education or details.  Smart people after all, are often thought to be just trying to show off or “think they are better than the rest of us”.  That is just another psychological barrier to teaching many adults to change lifestyles. Remember the whole “seat belts are just uncomfortable” argument?  How about, “No one’s telling me to wear a helmet!”?  Of course we hear that in boating as well. Many will just argue that PFDs are uncomfortable and that there is no risk.  No matter what you tell them or how many posters you sell.  On the other hand if you tossed everyone out of their boats into 35 F water for a few minutes, you’d probobly have many more conversions.  Another issue is that people are just frightfully impatient. They just are not going to read the materials.  The ones that do, were never really at risk in the first place. (That’s why they are reading. . .)

Honestly I think the Safe Boating Campaign is a great start and yet in some ways I think we need to find a way to get that message to those those who are at risk in a way that they will want to listen.  I’m afraid we spend too much time preaching to the choir. (me included)

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