Is Kayaking Considered Dangerous?

I've often wondered if kayaking is dangerous. I've never done it and I'll tell you why. First of all, I'm claustrophobic. I don't want to sit in anything that makes me feel that way. Here's the other reason, if a kayak flips over and you can't get out of the driver's seat, then what?

According to kayakhelp.com, a lot of people have misconceptions about kayaking when it comes to safety issues. (and I'm one of them)

"People's perceptions about risk and danger are not always accurate. We might think things are more or less dangerous than they really are. A perceived risk is a concept that describes how dangerous something seems, while an actual risk is how dangerous that thing truly is." (kayakhelp.com)

One of the risks of kayaking is sun exposure. You can look at this in two different ways. If you're exposed to the sun for an hour without sunscreen protection, you should be fine.

If you're out in the water for a much longer period, then sun exposure can quickly become a real threat. Sunburn, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and dehydration can all be caused just by being out in the sun too long.

What about wearing a life jacket? It's so important to wear your life jacket when kayaking. So many accidents, injuries, and even death can be prevented with that one simple step.

What about hypothermia and cold shock? If you ever paddle in cold water, it's very important to remember that if you capsize into the water, it's a whole different story.

Cold shock and hypothermia are major risks when kayaking in cold water. "Even if the air outside isn't very cold, the water temperature can be drastically different." (kayakhelp.com)

Sure kayaking can be a lot of fun for many people who like to venture out, just keep in mind that there are several ways to protect yourself and others. (kayakhelp.com)