Safety Attitudes Survey

Do you currently live in the United States?* This field is required.

YESNO

Thank you for your interest. Right now, we are looking for respondents in the US only.

Happy paddling!

When paddling, how often do you, yourself, wear a life jacket?* This field is required.

At all times

Most of the time

About half of the time

It depends on the weather/how rough the water is

Occasionally

Rarely, if ever

I never wear a life jacket

When paddling, how often do you, yourself, bring (but not wear) a life jacket with you?* This field is required.

At all times

Most of the time

About half of the time

It depends on the weather/how rough the water is

Occasionally

Rarely, if ever

I never wear a life jacket

Do you take the time to make sure that your life jacket fits properly BEFORE paddling?* This field is required.

Yes, all the time

Yes, sometimes

When you go paddling and don't wear a life jacket, why is it that you don't wear one?* This field is required.(check all that apply)

I don't own one

Life jackets are uncomfortable

Life jackets make me too hot

I am a good swimmer

My fellow paddlers don't wear one

I feel that I am safe without wearing a life jacket

I paddle in a designated swim or surf zone and a life jacket is not required

Unsure

Other

When you're out paddling, how often do you paddle alone?* This field is required.

All the time

Most of the time

Rarely

Never

When paddling in a group, how often do the other paddlers in your group wear a life jacket while paddling?* This field is required.

At all times

Most of the time

About half of the time

It depends on the weather/how rough the water is

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

I don’t know

When paddling with a paddler under age 13, how often does the paddler under age 13 wear a life jacket?* This field is required.

At all times

Most of the time

About half of the time

It depends on the weather/how rough the water is

Occasionally

Rarely

Never

I don't paddle with paddlers under age 13

I don’t know

How important is it to you personally that other paddlers in your group wear a life jacket?* This field is required.

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important at all

Have no opinion

Comparing your current life jacket usage to 3-5 years ago, would you say you wear your life jacket more often, less often or about the same?* This field is required.

I wear my life jacket MORE often now than I did 3-5 years ago.

I wear my life jacket LESS often now than I did 3-5 years ago.

I wear my life jacket about the same as I did 3-5 years ago.

Why do you wear your life jacket more often than you did in the past?* This field is required.(select all that apply)

I paddle in more dangerous waters than in the past

I am more aware of the risks involved in paddling

I have a better life jacket

I didn't own a life jacket in the past

Wearing a life jacket seems to be more popular

Change in my attitude about wearing a life jacket

Change in regulations or awareness of regulations

Other

Why do you wear your life jacket less often than you did in the past?* This field is required.(select all that apply)

I paddle in safer water than in the past.

I am a better swimmer than I was in the past.

I am a better paddler than I was in the past.

Change in my attitude about wearing a life jacket

Change in regulations

Wearing a life jacket seems to be less popular

Other

When paddling, what precautions do you take to avoid hypothermia from cold water immersion?* This field is required.(select all that apply)

Wear insulating garments (wetsuit, dry suit, or non-cotton extra layers)

Bring a signaling device (mirror, whistle or light)

Bring a communication device (cell-phone, VHF radio, EPIRB, etc.)

Always paddle with a buddy

None of the above

Other

When paddling, how often do you take/do the following?* This field is required.

Do you drink alcohol before or during paddling?* This field is required.

Never

Rarely

Occasionally

Sometimes

Always

Do you feel that paddling while under the influence of alcohol is okay?* This field is required.

Yes, no matter how many drinks

Yes, if it's only 1 or 2 drinks

No, not at all

Do you take recreational drugs before or during paddling?* This field is required.

Never

Rarely

Occasionally

Sometimes

Always

Do you feel that paddling while under the influence of recreational drugs is okay?* This field is required.

Yes, no matter how much

Yes, if it's only a small dose

No, not at all

How familiar are you familiar with any rules/laws regarding drinking alcohol while paddling?* This field is required.

Extremely familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not very familiar

Not at all familiar

Have you or someone you know ever had a boating/paddling accident?* This field is required.(select all that apply)

Yes, I have

Yes, I know someone who has

No, I have not nor do I know anyone who has

Did you become more diligent about boating and paddling safety after the accident?* This field is required.

Yes, I became more diligent

No, I consider myself a safe boater/paddler so my habits didn't change

No, the accident had no effect on my boating/paddling safety habits

Have you capsized / fallen in while paddling a kayak, canoe, or SUP during the last 12 months?* This field is required.

YESNO

Did you have a life jacket when you capsized?* This field is required.

Yes - I was wearing one

Yes - In/on my boat/board

After capsizing, how much danger did you feel you were in?* This field is required.

No Danger

Slight danger

Some danger

Serious danger

How many times have you found yourself paddling in conditions beyond what you would consider to be your skill level during the last 12 months?* This field is required.

In the most recent situation where you felt you were paddling past your skill level, how much danger did you feel you were in?* This field is required.

No Danger

Slight danger

Some danger

Serious danger

In the most recent situation where you felt you were paddling past your skill level, what did you feel made the situation beyond your skill level?* This field is required.(check all that apply)

Bad weather

Currents/Tides

Waves

Other watercraft

Poor visibility

Water temperature

Other

In your opinion, how important is it to file a float plan or tell someone where you’re going and when you will return?* This field is required.

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important at all

Have no opinion

I am not sure what a float plan is

Do you think that it is socially acceptable to wear life jackets while paddling?* This field is required.

Yes, all the time

Yes, sometimes

Which statement best aligns with your opinion on whether wearing a life jacket should be required by law?* This field is required.

The law should require adults while paddling to wear a life jacket at all times

The law should require adults while paddling to wear a life jacket only when the weather is bad

The law should require adults while paddling to wear a life jacket only when paddling in swift moving water

The law should require adults while paddling to wear a life jacket only when the shoreline is no longer visible

Adult paddlers should be able to decide for themselves if they want to wear a life jacket or not

How familiar are you with federal and state rules/laws regarding wearing life jackets while paddling?* This field is required.

Extremely familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not very familiar

Not at all familiar

In your opinion, how important is it for paddle sports participants to take some sort of course to learn basic rules of navigation?* This field is required.

Very important

Somewhat important

Not very important

Not important at all

Have no opinion

When riding a bicycle, how often do you wear a helmet?* This field is required.

Never

Some of the time

Most of the time

Always

I don't ride a bicycle

When driving or riding in an automobile, how often do you wear a seat belt?* This field is required.

Never

Some of the time

Most of the time

Always

I don't ride in vehicles

For how many years have you been paddling?* This field is required.

More than 5 years

3 to 5 years

1 to 2 years

Less than 1 year

I'm not an active paddler

What types of paddling have you participated in during the last 12 months?* This field is required.(select all that apply)

Kayaking

Canoeing

Stand up Paddling (paddleboarding)

Rafting

Rowing (in a rowboat, rowing shell or similar)

What type of paddling do you participate in the most?* This field is required.

Kayaking

Canoeing

Stand up Paddling (paddleboarding)

Rafting

Rowing (in a rowboat, rowing shell or similar)

Overall, what would you consider your paddling skill level to be?* This field is required.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Expert

How many total canoes, kayaks and paddle boards do you and/or other members of your household currently own?* This field is required.

How many hours do you spend on a typical paddling outing?* This field is required.

1-3

4-6

7-9

10-12

More than 12 hours

How many paddling outings did you participate in during the last 12 months?* This field is required.

Did not go paddling in the last 12 months

1 outing

2 to 4 outings

5 to 9 outings

10 to 14 outings

15 to 24 outings

25 to 34 outings

35 to 49 outings

More than 50 outings

Where do you paddle most often?* This field is required.

Freshwater - lakes

Freshwater - ponds

Freshwater - rivers, calm water

Freshwater - rivers, rapid water

Saltwater - nearshore

Saltwater - inshore

Saltwater - offshore

Other

Do you have your name and contact info displayed on your canoes, kayaks and paddleboards in the event that your boat or board is lost?* This field is required.

All of them

Some of them

None

How many U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets do you own?* This field is required.

None

4 or more

Are you willing to complete a follow up survey in 6-12 months?* This field is required.

YESNO

Are you male or female?* This field is required.

Female

Male

What is your age?* This field is required.

Under 18

18 to 20

21 to 24

25 to 29

30 to 34

35 to 39

40 to 44

45 to 49

50 to 54

55 to 59

60 to 64

65 or over

What is the highest level of education you have completed?* This field is required.

Some high school or less

Graduated high school

Attended college, but did not graduate

Graduated from 2-year college

Graduated from 4-year college

Post graduate study without a degree

Master's degree

Doctoral degree

Other professional degree (e.g. M.D., LLB, etc.)

Which one of the following best describes your present state of employment?* This field is required.

Employed - Full time (30 or more hours per week.)

Employed - Part time (Less than 30 hours per week.)

Not Employed - Temporarily unemployed

Not Employed - Full-time student

Not Employed - Retired

Not Employed - Homemaker

Other

How many children do you have under the age of 18?* This field is required.

5 or more

Email Address* This field is required.Your email address will never be shared, disclosed, or published. This is simply to have contact info in case we have clarifying questions as well as to provide which address you'd like the follow-up survey sent to if interested.