Major "seconds" about advice for avoiding contact with corals for both personal and ecological reasons. Even if you're lucky enough to avoid all the fire coral, just standing or slipping on elkhorn or staghorn corals (think glass-edged sculptures) can result in serious cuts and abrasions which, without proper care, can quickly develop major infections. Even some of the relatively benign sea grasses can have edges sharp enough to cut exposed skin. One item that I keep in my scuba first aid kit and that you may want to consider for warm water paddling: an auto-injecting syringe for anaphaleptic (sp?) shock. It requires a doctor's prescription, but it's fairly inexpensive and relatively common for people who have severe allergies to various stinging insects. I read an account of a scuba diver with no previously known allergies who was swimming back to the boat, on the surface, following a dive. He was stung on his throat and shoulder (unknown origin) and as he was getting on the boat found his airway rapidly swelling shut. Only prompt recognition of the problem and injection of the antihistamine saved his life. (Off post: While it's probably already been considered, proper sun protection is critical for not only skin but eyes. A bad sunburn on even a small part of your body can make things miserable for the remainder of a trip.) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 12/1/98 6:44:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, Byron.Lawrence.blawrenc_at_nt.com writes: << One item that I keep in my scuba first aid kit and that you may want to consider for warm water paddling: an auto-injecting syringe for anaphaleptic (sp?) shock. It requires a doctor's prescription, but it's fairly inexpensive and relatively common for people who have severe allergies to various stinging insects. >> Yes, yes, yes! Epi-pens --- 0.3 mg of epinephrine in a spring loaded auto- injector, or manual epi-kits for the macho types --- can save a life in the event of anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock). As can a small bottle of children's Benadryl or generic equivalent --- or at least it helps until the epinephrine arrives. This from the been-there-done-that department --- with a quick chug down of most of the bottle of the Barney-medecine being the thing that kept me breathing quietly until the medics sent me bouncing off the gurney with a heavy epinephrine hit. Good things to have along in the kit. Jack Martin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
I was recently reading about the search for a Spanish treasure wreck in the Caribbean. They found it, partially due to the fact that the Elkhorn coral was still noticeably broken after 400 years! Cya *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
Another option,other than the Epi-Pen, is an Anakit. It contains a graduated syringe with enough epinephrin for 2 dosages(there is actually 1 ml. of epinephrin, enough for 3 adult dosages and the cylinder is graduated so children can be given smaller dosages), and chewable anti-histamine tablets. The 2 dosage option is good in remote locations, to protect against rebound.The plunger has stops, so there is less chance of giving too large of a dosage. The only drawback to the Anakit is if you are squeamish about using needles to give an intra-muscular injection. If that is the case, carry 2 Epi-Pens. The anakit is a case of less $ is more, due to the Epi-pen's more complex syringe, which will inject the epinephrin automatically when jammed onto the skin of the victim of anaphylactic shock. -----Original Message----- From: JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Tuesday, December 01, 1998 9:47 PM Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Objectionable Wildlife >In a message dated 12/1/98 6:44:16 PM Eastern Standard Time, >Byron.Lawrence.blawrenc_at_nt.com writes: > ><< One item that I keep in my scuba first aid kit and that you may want to > consider for warm water paddling: an auto-injecting syringe for anaphaleptic > (sp?) shock. It requires a doctor's prescription, but it's fairly > inexpensive and relatively common for people who have severe allergies to > various stinging insects. >> > >Yes, yes, yes! Epi-pens --- 0.3 mg of epinephrine in a spring loaded auto- >injector, or manual epi-kits for the macho types --- can save a life in the >event of anaphylaxis (anaphylactic shock). As can a small bottle of >children's Benadryl or generic equivalent --- or at least it helps until the >epinephrine arrives. This from the been-there-done-that department --- with a >quick chug down of most of the bottle of the Barney-medecine being the thing >that kept me breathing quietly until the medics sent me bouncing off the >gurney with a heavy epinephrine hit. Good things to have along in the kit. > >Jack Martin >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ >*************************************************************************** > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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