Good points. Although I often carry garbage bags with me, they are not for immersion situations. Instead: 1. If the weather starts turning nasty and I have someone without a good paddling jacket, this is a worthwhile emergency substitute. Cut holes for the arms and the head and put it on. Works nicely as a windbreaker too -- and a help when the person's clothing is damp or wet. 2. -- and because it is black it can help keep a potentially hypothermic person warmer -- not just as a windbreaker but as a thermal jacket. Even if the sun is behind clouds there is some accumulation. FWIW I tried trash compactor bags once because I thought they would be much stronger and withstand abrasion. -- But they're so stiff and are thus hard to use. Not recommended for trying to keep something dry, as in emergency frybag... Joe P. -----Original Message----- >From: Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> >Pamvetdr_at_aol.com wrote: > >> I'm fascinated to see garbage bags as an alternative on your list. I >> have considered carrying a contractor strength, large garbage bag in >> case of capsize of a person without a wetsuit or dry suit (this was >> precipitated by an incident a couple of years ago where I had great >> trouble rescuing a friend who was much less competent that they had >> portrayed themselves to be in doing rescues). It seemed to me that if >> the person could open and get into the bag, even with a lot of water, it >> would greatly reduce the flow-by cooling effect of the water and even >> allow a constant layer of warmer water to stay by their skin. > >Pam, two reasons this might not be so useful: > >1. Mobility is compromised by a voluminous film such as a garbage bag. to >prevent ready eschange with surroundings, you'd have to strap it pretty >tight, several places. > >2. The water inside the GB will have to be warmed up by the person using >it. The heat capacity (aka specific heat) of water being enormously high *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Mon Jul 06 2009 - 07:41:12 PDT
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