RE: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the

Jackie,

Your unlikely to see a documented case of hyperthermia in kayakers wearing
drysuits, because racers tend not to wear drysuits, and most people wearing
a drysuit would tend to back off the intensity if they're over heating.

I passed out from heat exhaustion during a workout back when I competed in
bike racing (I hit the pavement at 30mph and even with a helmet the
resulting head damage wasn't good)and when I was racing track I had Heat
Stroke on two different occasions about ten years apart. Personally I do
dress for some immersion - i.e. a shorty wetsuit, and when the air is real
warm, I'll unzip it to my waste in smooth sections of water, even though the
water is cold (55-57F). I also drink about 1-2 liters of liquid per hour of
paddling, and often paddle hard enough to sweat to the point that I don't
have to pee. I do agree that it is a skills and environment issue. I'd
suspect that the number one cause of death is really getting in over ones
head, I've done it myself and fortunately lived through it - although some
of my friends may think otherwise  ;-)

That's also the reason why people don't wear drysuits when they are on a
cruise ship in Alaska or off of Newfoundland, even though in the case of the
Titanic, it would have saved some lives.

So I really think it is a question of ones skills, as compared to the
environment that they are paddling in. It's basically a risk assessment
issue, with probably the biggest problem being that those with the least
skills and experience, making the judgment that the risk is low when in fact
it isn't.

- Thanks -Saul

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
[mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net]On Behalf Of Jackie Fenton
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 5:53 PM
To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the


> From: Strosaker_at_aol.com

<snip>

> have excellent rolling and bracing skills, and I did do some bracing.  But
> like I have said before, I think a skilled paddler has much higher chance
of
> getting heat stroke or heat exhaustion by wearing a wetsuit or drysuit
than
> getting hypothermia from not wearing one.
>
> Duane Strosaker

Do you know of any instances where a skilled paddler has suffered
hyperthermia from wearing a wetsuit or drysuit?  Since hypothermia has
been called the number one killer of sea kayakers, I am curious to know
if anyone has actually suffered real heat stroke (hyperthermia) from
wearing a wetsuit or drysuit (not anectdotal, but documented).  This
is a common excuse given for not wearing a wetsuit or drysuit but I
have never heard of any actual accounts.

Thanks,

Jackie


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