Re: [Paddlewise] Incapacitated partner

The discussion about assisting incapacitated paddlers reminds me of my
experience A few years back. Dr. Walter Klehr and Dr. Paul Tilsen and I
were researching migration patterns of the Inuit in the Boothia peninsula
region when Dr. Tilsen suddenly developed symptoms of a heart attack.

Fortunately Dr. Klehr still retained some of his medical skills (he left
medicine under a bit of a cloud having to do with some novel fertility
treatments that he learned in Borneo) and immediately came to Dr. Tilsen's
aid. There was a six foot sea running and the wind was shifting around to
the north so we rafted up and Klehr performed what must surely be the only
open heart surgery performed in sea kayaks at sea. It is truly remarkable
what one can do with a properly sharpened Buck Lok Back knife.  I, of
course, take some credit for had I not had my usual supply of AB negative
blood in my emergency kit I am sure the surgery would have failed. Once Dr.
Klehr had closed we rigged Tilsen's boat with Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc
sponsons and took him in tow. We eventually landed in a protected cove
where we made him as comfortable as possible.

The story has a sad ending as it turned out that Tilsen had an allergy to
latex and reacted unfavourably to the glove Klehr left in the body cavity
while closing. I do not blame Dr. Klehr in any way as the light was fading
and the conditions were not the best for surgery. It was an excusable
mistake.

Nevertheless, paddlers should keep this in mind and never take latex gloves
on a sea kayaking trip. I also insist that all participants on my trips
fill out a full medical report of any conditions real or imagined. It also
wise to take a number of specialists along since one can never know what
types of illnesses may pop up. GP's are really not up to snuff on modern
surgical practices.

Dr. Peregrine Inverbon, Ph.d., DD, LL.d, Ph.G
Transcribed by his humble servant John Winters






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