Download Canoeing and kayaking for people with disabilities by Janet Zeller PDF

Have the person practice wet exits in a pool. Difficulty carrying the boat • Use boat-carrying carts and scout for an easy put-in, or launching, site that does not require as much carrying. Susceptible to cold or heat • 46 Make sure the person is prepared for the weather and water conditions by wearing proper clothing (see Selecting Clothing, p. 31, in chapter 5). Functional Impairment Upper-Limb Amputation Possible Implications for Paddling: Teaching Suggestions and Adaptations Damaged or wet prosthesis • Suggest that the person use a prosthesis designed for use in water, because other designs could be damaged.

7 An open, solo canoe. Photos courtesy of Mad River Canoe. 8 A tandem canoe. Photos courtesy of Mad River Canoe. than a kayak, it offers easier entry, exit, and access to gear. However, seating stability can be more difficult to adapt in an open canoe because of the large amount of open space. Adaptation materials often raise the seating position, so it may be (and usually is) necessary to lower the canoe seat for paddlers with disabilities. You can remove the bolts and seat hangers (spacers between the seat and gunwale) and replace them with longer bolts and new seat hangers.

The person then tucks the paddle under the residual limb and uses the uninjured arm to swim and catch an assist from another kayak. • Have the person use an adapted style of paddling. • In the bow of a canoe, the paddler could use a single-bladed adapted paddle with the residual arm. The stern paddler could use a double-bladed paddle, if necessary, to compensate. Swimming ability affected by the absence of a limb • The person’s PFD must provide adequate flotation and fit securely. • The person should first try swimming with a PFD in a safe environment.