Don't Call BP's Spill An "Accident"

Kayaking off Delray Beach, Florida, the other day. I marveled at pelicans gliding low between the waves, a school of dolphins rolling along, their fins arching in and out of the water, and a giant sea turtle exploding through the surface, taking a gulp of air and vanishing just as quickly.

This beauty is present on the every day in South Florida. And there's a good chance it will eventually be blighted by the sickening oil slick BP's negligence and government corruption is spreading across the Gulf of Mexico.

If, as scientists suspect, the loop current that runs down the west coast of Florida, through the Keys and up the east coast along Miami Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County (where I live), we probably won't have the same level of devastation they're experiencing in Louisiana, but there's sure to be oil covered, dead wildlife -- maybe even the stunning creatures I marveled at -- washing up on our shores.

The anger anyone who knows and appreciates the natural wonders down here feels is hard to contain. My blood boils whenever I hear commentators on TV describe what is now rated as the worst oil spill in American history as an accident.

Just like the Exxon Valdez spill off Alaska in 1989, there's nothing accidental about this. The Exxon Valdez spill -- considered one of the worst examples of human-related disasters up to this point -- wasn't caused by any factors that couldn't have been easily prevented. It was caused because Exxon didn't bother to fix faulty sonar on the ship that would have spotted the reef it struck, and the ship was under the control of a third mate who couldn't handle it. There was even suspicion that the captain left his post to the third mate because he was drunk.

Details are starting to come out that similar cost-cutting and corner-cutting by the three companies involved in the oil exploration project in the Gulf of Mexico -- BP, Transocean and Halliburton (How is this company still in business after its criminal behavior around the world?) set the scene for this disaster. Details are emerging from witnesses that the companies cut workers on the rig to the point where preventive maintenance was not being performed according to schedule, didn't follow standard protocol to seal the well, and didn't pay attention when earlier tests indicated a problem with the blowout preventer that was the failsafe to stop a blowout.

The government has been a true embarrassment in this situation, too. Over a year ago, it was reported that the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service -- which is responsible for monitoring the oil companies -- was actually in bed (literally) with the oil companies. Head are rolling, but not fast enough. The government is also embarrassing itself by not mounting a concerted effort to keep oil from sloshing into Louisiana's marshes -- critical to the nation's fisheries -- when it was clear BP had dropped the ball. Reporters and scientists who boat into the thickest slicks just off the coast say there's no clean-up crew in sight.

This whole thing is disgusting and a sign of negligence on behalf of the companies and our government. Don't ever say there's anything accidental about it within earshot of me.

Fitness: Something's Better Than Nothing

It has been one of those wacky weeks where work and responsibilities to friends and family have eaten up just about all my free time. Squeezing in my daily exercise routine hasn't been easy. Squeezing in the full hour or so of running or weight training has been impossible. But that's no excuse for taking the week off.

Instead, when I get into these clutch situations, I just ramp back a little. I like to call them bookmark weeks. They're weeks when I'm not going to make any great strides, there just isn't time. So I spend a little less time, but make it quality time. I might not be able to run 45 minutes, so I run a little harder or on a tougher terrain for 30 minutes. I might not be able to perform a whole hour of weight training, so I spend a half hour doing less reps, but making sure to touch on all the usual body parts.

This isn't the ideal compromise for me. I really do miss being able to enjoy my workouts and getting lost in the zone. But, holding my place until responsibilities ease-up next week -- and I can get back to my full routine -- is worth it. Another huge pay-off is that I don't have to suffer through the "I just got back from vacation break-in period." That's the one where you go to work-out after so much time off you can't believe you used to run as far or lift as much weight as you could before you left.

If you're buried in responsibilities just remember: Something's Better Than Nothing.

Sad Coincidence: Wear Your PFD!

Sometimes coincidences give you the chills. Two days after I posted an article on our RuggedReviews.com blog urging all boaters to wear personal flotation devices at all times, a boat slammed into a navigational marker early in the morning a block from my house on the Intracoastal Waterway in Delray Beach, Florida. A passenger who was not wearing a PFD was thrown into the dark water and died. The cause of death hasn't been determined yet, but if statistics are a guide, there's a good chance the passenger would have survived if he had worn a PFD.

The RuggedReviews.com blog entry I wrote quotes the U.S. Coast Guard as saying nine out of ten of the hundreds of boaters who drowned in 2006 were not wearing personal flotation devices. Other statistics show that many of them were within yards of shore at the time.

The owner of the boat that crashed near my home told the Palm Beach Post that he's "crushed" by what happened. He said, "I never meant for this to happen. I'm not a bad person. Now I have to pay the price." (Read the full article HERE.) I would imagine everyone involved in similar nightmare scenarios would say the same thing.

The only way to prevent these needless deaths is to:

1. Purchase a PFD that's suitable for your age, size, weight and sport. PFD's are sold with clear labels telling what they will and won't do. For example, Type I PFDs -- old blocky style life vests -- are designed for long-term ocean use and will keep your face out of the water if you're unconscious. Type II PFDs -- usually modern vest-types -- are made for near shore use and will likely not keep your face out of the water if you fall unconscious. Type II PFDs assume you will receive aid in a short amount of time.

2. Make sure there is a PFD available for everyone on your craft. If you're short one, one life may be lost.

3. Wear the PFD at all times. You can't anticipate all emergencies -- such as a collision, explosion, fire or heart attack. There's a good chance you won't be able to reach for your PFD in time, let alone put it on.

Don't become a sad statistic out on the water. WEAR YOUR PFD! Visit the U.S. Coast Guard site for more life-saving safety tips.

Personal Flotation Device: Have It. Wear It.

Did you know nine out of ten of the hundreds of boaters who drowned in 2006 were not wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs)? That horrifying statistic from the U.S. Coast Guard should spur even the most rugged boaters out there to buckle up. But obviously it doesn't.

I see people all the time when I'm kayaking completely without PFDs or stowing them out of reach. Even if they're in reach, the question is would the boaters have time to retrieve them if their boat struck something, caught on fire, capsized or sustained any number of other sudden emergencies? Probably not. That's not even addressing what would happen if they had a medical emergency or fell unconscious.

These deaths are so needless they're a tragic shame. There are so many different types of flotation devices it's a breeze to find one that's comfortable and functional.

When you do go shopping for a PFD, there's a critical fact that's easy to overlook: Not all PFDs provide the same measure of safety. When you're at the store, be sure to read the tags to determine if the device that caught your eye is a Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV or Type V PFD. The Coast Guard provides very clear language to describe what the different types of devices will and won't do.

A Type I personal flotation device is meant for offshore use. It provides the most buoyancy and will keep most people's face out of the water even if they're unconscious. A Type II personal flotation device is for near-shore use. It will keep most people's faces out of the water but it's not as buoyant as a Type I PFD. A Type III vest-style PFD is intended for near-shore water sports where the wearer will receive quick-assistance if he or she falls unconscious. It will not automatically keep faces out of the water. A Type IV PFD is a flotation device that is thrown to a person in distress and will only work if the person can hold on to it. A Type V PFD is a specialized device meant for participants in sports like windsurfing, kiteboarding and kayaking. The wearers have to be aware of how they work before taking them out on the water.

Any of this Type-based information may change in the future, so it's important that you read the tags before making a purchase. Also, make sure that the PFD you choose is matched to the age, weight and size of the user and that they know how to wear it correctly. A PFD that's ill fitting or worn incorrectly won't provide the safety you expect.

Drowning is preventable. Don't become a statistic. When you hit the water have a PFD and wear it.

For more advice on PFD's, visit the U.S. Coast Guard site by clicking HERE. To find out about a cool kayak, visit my review site RuggedReviews.com