> >There was a couple on Steve's when we arrived. They were waiting out the >fog, had no overnight equipment, no extra food and no compass. This was >an interesting comparison to our "stuff". Even if we had been fogged in >for the weekend, we had tent, blankets, extra food and clothes. AND a >compass and chart. > >Debra >Southern Maine Sea Kayaking Network > This brings up an issue for me. . . I've paddled with one person who didn't pack any water, no food, no compass, flares, lights, radio -- basically she had the boat, PFD, wetsuit, hat, and pogies. Dave Kruger knows who I'm talking about. He was there. Dave, this paddler, and I decided to circumnavigate Long Island in Willapa Bay. The day was Dec. 21 --winter solstice. The tide and daylight windows would be very tight, but we did the circumnav without any problem. Dave and I had extra food and water. Here's my list of the minimal stuff to take for a day paddle: Spare paddle PFD equiped with: Gerber River Shorty knife Three aerial flares Signal mirror Compass VHF radio Strobe light Watch (strapped to the vest, dry-top won't easily accomodate a watch) 100' nylon line Water, about two litres behind the seat, and in water bottles, *hate* being dehydrated! Paddle float Bilge pump Food, typically three bagels, some lunch meat, granoloa. . . enough for overnight. I'm thinking about putting together a first aid kit, but I was a Medic in the Army, have a couple Red Cross First Aid certificates for teaching, and feel comfortable with being able to improvise bandages, splints and slings from the T-shirt, long-john top, spare paddle, knife, and line that I pack along. Most first aid kits that I see are "aspirin and bandaids" which work for small children on a day trip in the car. . . But my idea of a first aid kit is something that will manage broken bones, lacerations, and traumatic amputations (OK, gunshot wounds too. . . the Medic in me). These sorts of injuries are managed generally with "bandages" made from clothing. . . the T-shirt and long-john top are ample and well suited. Spare paddles make decent splints for legs, arms might need a shorter splint. . . part of a paddle. Bandaids and aspirin won't work for large lacerations. Hutchinson talks about a first aid kit with prescription pain killers and minor surgery items. I think a forceps, tweezers, a scalpel, and surgical scissors would be a start. Some very large absorbent bandages, a 2" roll of adhesive tape, and a couple "Ace" elastic bandages should manage most injuries. But I think maybe the huge injury concern in paddling is hypothermia and for that, a sleeping bag and a second warm body. . . When hiking and skiing, I take lots of "bandages" for blisters--and also clean socks which I suppose are part of a first-aid kit for hiking and skiing feet. There must be paddling specific items on the first-aid list. So what's on your list of basic paddling stuff? ------------------------------------------------------- George Bergeron, Secretary OSWEGO HERITAGE COUNCIL P.O. Box 1041, Lake Oswego, Oregon 97034 Web Site: http://www.europa.com/~heritage/welcome.html Email: heritage_at_europa.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Apr 13 1998 - 20:38:12 PDT
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