Packrafting Academy

MRS Paddling Academy | “Accident Case Report” Series – Vol. 1

Posted on by admin
19
Jul

According to the “2023 Annual Report on Outdoor Adventure Accidents in China,” there were a total of 425 outdoor adventure accidents in 2023:

– Mountain accidents: 216 cases
– Water accidents: 123 cases
– Ice and snow project accidents: 27 cases
– Road project accidents: 26 cases
Drowning, entrapment, and slipping accounted for more than half of the accidents in 2023.

What situations may lead to safety accidents for players?

– Lack of outdoor sports experience, not participating in training, unable to self-rescue in accidents;
– Overconfidence, neglecting potential dangers around them;
– Lack of equipment, causing great harm;
– Unfamiliar with the destination, insufficient investigation and research on the route before setting off;
– Not progressing step by step, directly participating in high-intensity activities.
……

 

Water is not a playground,
safety is the passport.

The following is what we want to convey through the safety accident cases of the MRS Paddling Academy. Sharing about accidents, risk analysis, and educating on correct practices, we hope to draw valuable experience from this case.

 

 

Wearing a life jacket correctly:
the amulet for water life safety

Life is only once, there is no second chance. When the boat sails into the distance, wind and waves strike. If one falls into the water due to a slip, facing the threat of losing their life because they did not wear a life jacket, it is truly heartbreaking and regrettable.

 

Case 1

Hongan Town, Xiuan County, Chongqing, China – Dragon Boat Team capsizing accident

On June 5, 2024, a dragon boat team in Hongan Town, Xiuan County, Chongqing capsized during training, resulting in one death and two missing.On June 9, the two missing persons were found, both died.

Scenes of the Accident and Related News Reports

 

The scene from the dragon boat training that day was exposed, revealing that team members began rowing without wearing life jackets. The accident occurred suddenly, with members falling into the water one by one, catching everyone off guard. Some attempted desperately to right the overturned dragon boat, while others struggled in the water, leading to a chaotic situation. Despite frantic rescue efforts, three could not be saved.

This incident has caused quite a sensation, prompting comments : “Don’t dragon-boat rowers know how to swim?”

The accident occurred during the spontaneous training of the dragon boat team. There were 24 people on board at the time, with the helmsman having just two days of learning. Improper handling led to the capsizing of the boat. Furthermore, many team members were not wearing life jackets during training and they could not swim, lacking the ability to self-rescue, which contributed to the accident.

The importance of life jackets as a basic safety measure for water activities is self-evident. However, in this accident, this crucial safety precaution was disregarded by some people.

Case 2

Wearing a life jacket in flat water

On the afternoon of August 20, 2022, a tragic incident occurred at Xiangtang Reservoir in Pukou District, Nanjing, where a person died from drowning while playing paddleboard without wearing a life jacket.

One person drowned while playing in the reservoir. The rescue team finally salvaged her to shore after nearly 4 hours of searching, but unfortunately, it showed no sign of life.

According to residents involved in the rescue, the drowning victim was paddleboarding in the reservoir without taking any protective measures as the water looks calm.

 

An eyewitness mentioned that the person had paddled back and forth a couple of times in the reservoir. They assumed she was experienced and did not realize she might not be able to swim. “She didn’t take any protective measures at all.” Despite approximately ten people rushing to the scene to rescue her after the sudden accident, unfortunately, they were unable to save her.

This incident occurred at a reservoir, usually we referred it as a flat water area. In most cases, players may underestimate the risks, so they do not wear life jackets while boating. Or they like playing and taking photos on boats so that ignoring the risks.

However, flat water areas often conceal various unknown risks, such as water depth. Even in flat water areas, wearing a life jacket is essential for safety during boating and water activities.

Risk Analysis

During water activities, personal safety must be prioritized, wearing a life jacket is very important.
A life jacket serves as a “amulet” for safeguarding water life.
Accidents such as unexpected falls into the water frequently occur while playing in water. Don’t think you are just on a boat. Even for great swimmers, they will face significant risks falling into the water if encountering swift currents, dams, strong currents, or adverse weather conditions.
Therefore, wearing a life jacket correctly is the last line of defense for ensuring life safety when going into the water (boating).

In addition, organizers of outdoor water activities should enhance safety education, increase players’ awareness of the importance of life jackets, and ensure that each player is proficient in using a life jacket correctly before going into the water.

Correct instruction