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Don't ban river use, just help people be safe
Date published: 7/2/2008
Don't ban river use, just help people be safe
The Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers are a huge asset to our community. They require our protection and respect. They are both beautiful and dangerous.
The recent drownings have been unfortunate. Suggestions of barring use of the rivers, however, are certainly the wrong way to go.
The percentage of drownings in relation to the number of people who use the river safely is small, although not insignificant.
Offering personal flotation devices, providing lifeguards at popular points of entry, posting warning signs, and providing education cannot only help prevent drownings, but can also enhance enjoyment of the rivers.
Friends of the Rappahannock gives a comprehensive safety talk with demonstrations once a year. There is also a video with paddling and safety tips created by the American Canoe Association that's available for viewing at FoR headquarters.
Visitors to our area should be encouraged to take advantage of the safety features already in place so that they can enjoy our rivers safely.
Carol Brooks
Spotsylvania
Date published: 7/2/2008
Most recent reader comments:
You Deserve Not to Be Deliberately Served Coffee Guaranteed to Scald
(posted by
imready
, July 3, 2008 5:00 am)
You must not have read the link http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm McDonalds deliberately served coffee that would cause 3rd degree burns. The entire rest of the industry chose not to do that. McDonalds knew that 700 people had been scalded but did it anyway. By your reasoning car companies should be entitled to tell people that there is a defect in a car and that people should avoid rear end collisions (a la the Ford Pinto). There is always someone trying to pass the buck for their negligence.
You Deserve a Break Today
(posted by
Einstein
, July 2, 2008 10:47 pm)
Aside from the “open and obvious” danger that hot coffee presents that should eliminate a warning, Stella Liebeck’s cup did have a warning! The jury thought it was “too small”,Twelve courts correctly threw the case out.McDonald’s sells billions of cups of coYouffee. There had been 700 complaints over hot coffee in the previous decade, which translates into a complaint rate of 1-in-24-million, with only a small fraction of the complaints reflecting injuries as severe as Liebeck’s.
We can have fun safely
(posted by
imready
, July 2, 2008 5:54 pm)
With all the new people in the area and visitors it is unlikely that all the people who go swimming in the river know what parts are safe and which are not. It is not unreasonable to want that really unsafe areas be posted as unsafe and swimming banned. Where the swimming is safe, it is not unreasonable to allow swimming and if there are enough people swimming even have a lifeguard. We ban swimming at beaches when severe riptide conditions exist. The lifeguard? He's there in case someone needs help.
The McDonald's Coffee Case
(posted by
imready
, July 2, 2008 5:47 pm)
McDonald's deliberately superheated coffee to about 190F to maintain taste when standard restaurant practice is to keep coffee no more than about 160F. Coffee at 190F can cause 3rd degree burns if contact with the fluid is maintained for more than 2 to 3 seconds. McDonalds knew the danger and had about 600 claims against it for 3rd degree burns but chose to continue the coffee at 190F. The plaintiff was severely burned and spent 8 days in the hospital. http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm
. . . At Your Own Risk
(posted by
Einstein
, July 2, 2008 3:49 pm)
Learn it. Live it. I realize that will unemploy a few lawyers, but really, do I need, "CAUTION: CONTENTS MAY BE HOT!" printed on my coffee cup?
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