Sports and recreation
Flatwater kayaking
Estimated population-level acute risk associated with recreational kayaking on calm lakes or slow-moving rivers.
Base risk estimate
0.3 micromorts per hours
Population-level estimate. Not a personal prediction.
Assumptions
Assumes recreational kayaking on calm inland water (lakes, ponds, slow rivers) with a life jacket and basic paddling ability. Flatwater exposure is assumed to be lower-risk than the combined USCG kayak rate.
Limitations
Exposure (national kayak hours) is estimated from SFIA participation data, not directly measured. USCG data does not separate flatwater from whitewater. Risk varies by water temperature, weather, PFD use, swimming ability, remoteness, and solo vs. group paddling.
Source notes
USCG 2022: 636 total recreational boating fatalities; kayaks accounted for 14% = approximately 89 kayak deaths. Estimated national kayak exposure: approximately 12.6 million participants (SFIA 2022) × ~8 outings/year × ~2 hours = ~200 million hours. Combined rate ~0.45 micromorts/hour; flatwater estimate lowered to 0.30 to reflect that calmer conditions produce a below-average rate. USCG data does not separate flatwater from whitewater kayaking.
Last reviewed
5/31/2024