Flotation Vests Saved Lives (Again)

Kayaking is such fun.

But even on a sunny day, a flotation vest can save your life.

Last week at Sand Harbor, on Tahoe's East Shore, two kayakers were doing just fine when the wind came up.

Both kayaks capsized. Both kayakers swam to some big rocks that were poking out of the water. Both kayakers were wearing flotation vests (life jackets).

Because Tahoe is so cold, especially in the spring, both kayakers began to suffer from hypothermia. (Which is when you get so cold, your muscles stop working, and you drown.)

Someone saw them struggling and called 911.

The Washoe Sheriff's Office has a patrol boat at Incline Village not far away. They came and rescued the freezing paddlers.

They lived. Why? Because they were wearing flotation vests.

Moral of the story? Stay near shore when you go out on a tippy craft like a paddleboard, a kayak, or a canoe. And ALWAYS wear a flotation vest.