[Paddlewise] Safety Clinic

  I hosted our club's annual safety clinic last Saturday.  A few things 
were a big hit.  One thing scared me quite a bit.  The "J" shaped slalom 
course, set up to teach boat control, was run repeatedly by all present 
and with great enthusiasm.  An even bigger hit was the Across The Cove 
race.  Racers had to paddle across a 75 yard cove paddling only on their 
right side, bump the beach with their bow, and return backwards paddling 
on both sides.  The grand prize for the race was a Hooters Frisbee.  I 
gift wrapped the prize so no one but me knew what they were competing 
for.  It really caused the competitive spirit to come out strong in the 
racers.    When the gun went off most people shot off at a 45 degree 
angle to their left.  I yelled, "Edge! Edge!"  It didnt do a lot of good 
but later it was a healthy learning point to discuss. One guy did roll 
successfully  three times while coming back.
Now the scary bit.  We started the day doing voluntary wet exits.  Not 
everyone wanted to play.  A couple new to the club (both about 50) were 
really gung ho and dumped right over.  We had her back in quickly and 
without incident. Now it was the husband's turn.  He appeared to be in 
OK physical condition.  Appearances can be deceiving.  I tried several 
different ways to help him back in.  He couldnt get any further up on 
the rear deck than his sternum.  We tried about four times, using  
several different ways to help in back in. He began to breathe shallowly 
and turned bright pink. My "M.I." radar went off!  I  tilted the boat 
completely sideways, had him float in legs first on his belly and rolled 
him up.  He swiveled around and sat up obviously weak and  just a bit 
oblivious to his surroundings like a runner after a very hard race. We 
paddled the ten yards to shore with a boat on each side of him.  I 
introduced him to "Tom".  Tom is the club's general surgeon .  The clubs 
surgical cardiac nurse was called over too.  I got back in my boat and 
collected the man's wife and gently informed her that he seemed stressed 
and perhaps she should go to him. She told me that he had been to a 
cardiologist the day before and had turned down the cardiologist's offer 
for care. Hmmmm....that doesnt sound good.  Well you can only lead a 
horse to water. The man sat around with Tom for about 30  minutes and 
regained his color. He paddled a bit more, had lunch and went home.

Jim et al
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