A loosely and  semi-organized group of kayakers and SUPers did water safety for a full and 1/2 iron distance triathalon that included an open water swim today.  I saw a few familiar faces that knew what to do, but most were as uninformed to their responsibilities as they were concerned about the safety of the swimmers.
    There were far fewer of us this year than in years past  which gave me cause for concern, but the temp was mild as was the wind.  I did however get pissed off at some volunteers who were more concerned with being social than their job to watch for swimmers in distress; yet I said nothing.
    After following the 2nd to last swimmer in the 1st wave who was more slapping the water than pulling it, I took up position in an area vacant of any safety and stayed there for the following waves.
    As the last swimmers passed I thought we were incident free.  wrong.   I was informed by one of the safety boaters who was bringing up the rear that someone had to be pulled out.    On my way back to my put in, I saw an ambulance, paramedics, and a person laying on a dock covered with a sheet, with only a foot exposed.
     I really wanted to cry.   I wasn't in the area so I don't know if inattention or simply being short handed played a part, or if it was a preexisting medical condition.   Safety has a job, it's not social; it's not a party.  It's serious.  I don't know all of the details of why, but there was little organization or direction; people did seem to spread out, but the limited numbers inevitably left gaps . 
    I had to get this off of my chest, going over the "what-ifs".   Right now there is a family out there,  absent a member,  wondering what went wrong.

I did a water safety paddle this summer with the Hood river Outrigger Club--we took our two OC6 boats out to watch over the channel swimmers. Wide range of swimming ability and seriousness--some people had pool toys and rubber duckies attached, some were going for gold. It wasn't a high-vigilance event, no briefing or anything of that manner. That didn't really bother me because I thought that compared to the things we sometimes have to deal with after some SUP mishap that it was pretty safe and controlled. But I also understood that if someone was really in trouble, that even though there were boats every few feet, there is a good chance no one would know to help them.

To some degree it doesn't matter how vigilant you or the rest of the people are, because what untrained safety crews look for, isn't what drowning looks like. There are no overt signs of distress, and drowning people slip under the water quietly. It happens so quickly that the attention or inattention of others doesn't mean much. http://www.ponostyle.com/drowning-doesnt-look-like-drowning/  What matters is that someone knows what to look for, and that's simply rare.

Ultimately, we who choose to take a bigger risk than normal are responsible for our own safety. You simply can't assume that people will see you have a problem and help. And when people do rescue someone they deepen that person's belief that they are operating within safe bounds--when they clearly aren't. Don't blame yourself, don't blame the others who didn't pay as close attention. You were there and you were all trying to help to some degree. If any of you had known what was happening you would have done all you could to save that person. Risk is risky.