Kayak Safety: Equipment and First Aid Kit Recommendations

Custom touches to your safety gear can improve your time on the water

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Here we discuss with YouTube star and nurse, Bri Andrassy, what she keeps in her personal first aid kit during her on the water adventures. Some of these additions might surprise you.

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There is zero argument to be made regarding safety with kayaks. They are small, single-person watercrafts loaded with gear that sit relatively low to the water, and accidents can happen if an angler is being careless. Providing visibility to other anglers and boaters makes perfect sense at all times. Local regulations on PFD use might differ from state-to-state but common sense should be adhered to. If you don't plan to wear a PFD the entire time you're on the water, make sure one is easily within arm's reach.

Any time an angler plans to launch before daylight or stay after dark, the law would require navigation lights to be installed and operating. In fact, it's probably a good idea to keep the lights turned on throughout the day and dressed with a highly visible flag.

Another obvious addition is a first aid kit, loaded with all the accessories you could possibly need. Something to clean and cover wounds, a clotting assistant (QuikClot), a tourniquet and even bolt cutters in case of a treble hook mishap (are you still using treble hooks?!). We will discuss further safety training exercises and accessories you'll want to be utilizing in our next installment of Kayak Safety.