Wear a Life Jacket: Drowning is a silent act



Coastal Automatic Inflatable Life Jacket
Somewhere, around 2017, we were cruising the Potomac River off Point Lookout, Maryland. We circled around off the north side of the inlet leading to Lake Conoy looking for anchorage. The depth finder showed 4 feet of water, we dropped anchor and I jumped in … but found a hole the depth finder missed. I’m sinking fast and watching the sun disappear as I’m waiting to hit bottom and push off towards the surface. The problem was that the bottom wasn’t showing up; I panicked in pure-on-only-paige-can-be-this-crazy-style and eventually broke the surface, choking and yelling, “Dead man float! Deadman float!” I looked over my left shoulder and saw land so I back-floated myself toward the safe shore, all the time mumbling and crying, “Dead man float.” After a while, I looked to my right and saw Jim Beck, standing next to me in 3 feet of water just watching and waiting for me to settle down so he could help. He always saves me.

Safely ashore, I must have walked that little beach picking up every shell, rock, and sliver of glass before Jim realized - I was NOT swimming back to the boat. Being the good captain, he brought me a life jacket, smiled, said nothing, and escorted me back to the boat. I am certain Jim thought his plans for the Loop were doomed to be a solo trip. 

Over the years, he has taught me so much and I learned to trust his instincts, nothing is every hasty with this wonderful man. So, instead, we will leave as Captain and Mate.

LESSON LEARNED:
Wear the life jacket! No one can predict when they will panic - the lesson is to recognize it early and almost 'self-talk' your way out of the emotion. 

PICTURE INCLUDED: 
My newest life jacket from West Marine. Here is something helpful: when you are setting up this jacket, SKIP STEP 3. Only pull the cord when you are going down with the ship and not sitting on the floor of a boat!

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