: 1. The failure to wear a personal flotation device.

: 2. The failure to wear head protection.

: 3. Lack of experience in severe water/weather conditions.

: 4. Collision with powered watercraft.

: 5. Influence of drugs/alcohol.

Hi Bruce, out of those five, I'd say that modifying #3 to "Lack of experience being in the water that you are paddling in for a period of time longer than it takes to effect a rescue." For example, benign conditions and 60 degree water will give you fatal hypothermia if you're hours from rescue and not dressed for the duration. If a person has the experience of being in the water for a half hour or two hours they're more likely to know the limits of their gear then if they learn a couple rescues that all take 5 minutes to perform. So a lot of assumptions are being made upon the ability to rescue in a short period of time so most folks dress accordingly,for short term immersion,and short term isn't what kills people. I'd include thermal head protection into #2, heat or cold ,but cold primarily. #4 and #5 are probably more of a risk while driving to the put-in.

#1 would follow #3.

Good judgement and not following someone elses bad judgement are probably #1.