Table: Whitewater Fatalities 1975-2005
|
WHITEWATER ACCIDENTS THROUGH THE YEARS
Reported to American Whitewater 1975-2005 |
|||||||
|
Year |
Kayak & C-1 |
Open Canoe |
Rafts (Com)(Priv)(I-K) |
Other |
Total |
||
|
1975 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
||
|
1976 |
|
|
|
|
0 |
||
|
1977 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
||
|
1978 |
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
||
|
1979 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
||
|
1980 |
1 |
|
|
|
1 |
||
|
1981 |
|
1 |
|
|
1 |
||
|
1982 |
8 |
1 |
|
|
9 |
||
|
1983 |
2 |
|
2 |
|
4 |
||
|
1984 |
1 |
1 |
|
|
2 |
||
|
1985 |
3 |
|
1 |
|
4 |
||
|
1986 |
9 |
|
4 |
|
13 |
||
|
1987 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
|
7 |
||
|
1988 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
|
9 |
||
|
1989 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
13 |
||
|
1990 |
11 |
6 |
1 |
|
18 |
||
|
1991 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
|
7 |
||
|
1992 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
|
7 |
||
|
1993 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
|
7 |
||
|
1994 |
8 |
5 |
6 |
5 |
2 |
|
26 |
|
1995 |
10 |
5 |
10 |
16 |
1 |
1 |
38 |
|
1996 |
13 |
2 |
4 |
15 |
|
3 |
37 |
|
1997 |
20 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
|
1 |
32 |
|
1998 |
21 |
7 |
10 |
16 |
1 |
3 |
51 |
|
1999 |
15 |
5 |
3 |
11 |
|
4 |
38 |
|
2000 |
18 |
11 |
15 |
12 |
2 |
1 |
48 |
|
2001 |
20 |
9 |
1 |
13 |
2 |
2 |
37 |
|
2002 |
12 |
8 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
1 |
30 |
|
2003 |
20 |
15 |
2 |
6 |
1 |
8 |
58 |
|
2004 |
17 |
4 |
6 |
6 |
2 |
6 |
41 |
|
2005 |
10 |
6 |
7 |
12 |
|
3 |
38 |
NB: American Whitewater has never been able to track all moving
water accidents. We do hear about most deaths involving experienced kayakers and think that our
“kayak” numbers are pretty accurate.
The total number of whitewater paddlers was very small in the 70's
and AW's accident reporting program was just getting started. The sport grew quickly towards the
end of the decade then doubled three times in the 80’s and 90's. We think increased
participation accounts for much of the increase in accidents. The increase in the number of
canoeing and rafting accidents reported to AW since 1994 is due mainly to the effectiveness of
Internet-based reporting.
According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, paddlesport deaths have
not increased much since the mid-70’s. See Jennifer Plyler's National accident Study for an
explaination. Note that although the Coast Guard records are more complete than ours because
states are required to report accidents to them, we have reports on some accidents they
missed.
|
AW Accident Database Deaths By State 1975 - 2005 |
|
|
8 |
|
|
17 |
|
|
9 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
79 |
|
|
77 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
DC |
0 |
|
0 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
41 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
3 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
18 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
2 |
|
|
11 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
32 |
|
|
22 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
12 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
19 |
|
|
43 |
|
|
1 |
|
|
6 |
|
|
0 |
|
|
27 |
|
|
10 |
|
|
15 |
|
|
4 |
|
|
14 |
|
|
42 |
|
|
51 |
|
|
7 |
|
|
State Ranking For Reported Whitewater Accidents 1975 - 2005 |
|
|
1. California |
79 |
|
2. Colorado |
77 |
|
3. West Virginia |
51 |
|
4. Pennsylvania |
43 |
|
5. Washington |
42 |
|
6. Idaho |
41 |
|
7. New York |
32 |
|
8. North Carolina |
22 |
|
9. Montana |
18 |
|
10. |
18 |
States with large population centers near
whitewater rivers have the most paddling
activity, and the most accidents.
|
10 States With No Reported Whitewater Accidents 1975 - 2005 |
|
Delaware |
|
DC |
|
Florida |
|
Hawaii |
|
Louisiana |
|
Mississippi |
|
Nebraska |
|
North Dakota |
|
Oklahoma |
|
South Dakota |
These are states with little or no
whitewater within their borders.