Dangers at Sea, Dangers on Land

[letsgetsailing3]

Originally Posted by accomplice

letsgetsailing, I don't deny that risks exist (I suffered a serious head injury racing a C&C44 27 years ago), but, knock-on-wood, in 40 years on the water there was only that one time that I needed to seek emergency medical treatment for self or crew. On land, we several times have needed medical assistance (and I live with a doctor!) for illness or injury. I worry more about a serious injury while my five children are bicycling on the streets in the rural town where we live than about a serious injury while cruising.

As far as minor injuries, resupplying the first aid-kit tells the tale. We go through more bandages at home in a week for skinned knees or sprains than while cruising. Personally, I stub my toes more on the boat, but I think that says more about my clumsiness than anything else. I have found that the only minor "injury" that happens more frequently while cruising is sunburn -- and you'd think that would be easily preventable.

Dangers abound while on the boat -- losing someone overboard chief among them -- but dangers are everywhere at home too. Experience shows that the zipline in the back-yard or wet tile in on the mudroom floor have caused more ambulance rides than anything on the boat. Yes, one could get ones fingers caught in a line on a winch, but instead I've had to take my daughter to multiple specialists when she closed her hand in a car door.

I think this is worthy of debate.

Really? You live with a doctor, but don't believe that being closer to health care is an advantage? You seem to be at odds with the Obama administration, who believe that government supplied health care is a basic human right and necessity.

I think your basic premise is flawed. I'll restate it, and you can tell me how I've misinterpreted it.

You're using bicycling on the street as your comparison. So what you're saying is that because your kids would do inherently dangerous activities on land, that you can better control their movements while cruising, so cruising is safer?

Have I summed up your argument correctly?

Because I'd be surprised if what you're saying is that being aboard a boat at sea is safer than being in your house, in a community with emergency medical facilities within a 15 minute drive.

I believe that cruising has risks that are higher than staying home. It seems to me to be basic common sense that if you go from a place where you have more relative control over water, food, shelter, and events and ready access to emergency care to a place where you have less control over these basic needs then you are adding risk. You're more exposed to the elements. This is why most people live in houses if they have the opportunity, and not small, fiberglass boxes.

Don't misunderstand me -- I think the risks are worth it, but I don't really understand some people's need to deny that they exist. For me, the dangerous bit isn't that there are risks, it's denying that they are there.