To complement the topic of "avoiding capsizing", I figured I'd start a "how to deal with hypothermia" post. If you worry about capsizing, then you really should take that further and also worry about hypothermia.

A lot of people (and I'm guilty of this until recently) pack for their trips during the shoulder seasons (April-June, Sept-Nov) as if in summer mode. Many don't consider the consequences of falling into freezing waters. And if you've ever gone for a quick swim (I regular do) in near-freezing waters, you'll know how little time it takes before your mind and mobility is compromised.

Even with all the advice about "avoiding capsizing", which are all great, capsizing is inevitable if you spend enough time out in the water. Sure you can manage the risk by using common sense and a safe approach to paddling and conditions, but all of that doesn't eliminate the risk.

This is what we have in place to deal with hypothermia should we capsize:
- All packs have water-proofed "strike anywhere matches" ready for use to warm us up
- The canoe's outfitted with a semi-permanent bailer to take out water and also water-proofed matches should we manage to paddle canoe full of water into shore without our packs
- Life-jackets (which are always worn) are outfitted with an envelope of water-proofed matches, again ready for use to warm us up

These are just examples of a few things that we do should the situation come up.

What precautions do you have to battle hypothermia should you cap size? Maybe we can all learn from each other.

Don't wear jeans.

Go here: http://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/kinrec/research/people/giesbrecht.html

and scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you'll find pdf's of interest.




Barbara

If you use a down bag, do everything you possibly can to keep it dry. Waterproof stuffsack in a waterproof (not resistant) pack.

Layer properly and pack an extra set of clothes. Stay dry, and if you get wet, get dry.

Only thing I can add right now is stay close to shore where possible, we also carry waterproof matches in our pants pockets, had a save a couple a few years ago ( already mentioned quite some time ago ) and they where within 10-15' of shore and it probably took us 10 or so minutes to get to them and the lady was already in shock and crying and shaking, we where able to get a fire going get her out of her wet clothes and into a dry top the guy stripped down and got by the fire , I think if they had been in the middle of the lake they would not have made it. But like it was touched on earlier, these 2 people should not have been in the Park in May certainly not on Smoke Lake that is for sure, ( they tippes on Ragged ) not sure how they made it down Smoke.

You don't have to capsize to get hypothermia. Learn how to recognize it.

When the water is clod, I always have my pfd on and zipped up. Even standing on shore, fishing, I wear it if there is the chance that I'd fall in.

Sleeping bag, clothes and sleeping pad are double drysacked.

I never tie my gear in the boat!! Don't worry, it'll float for a while and it's a lot easiler to right a flipped canoe that doesn't have waterlogged gear strapped to it.

Most 'waterproof' matches are useless once they really get wet. I always carry a knife and a flint stick clipped to me (my PFD). If I have these two things I'll be OK... for a while anyway.

Stay Warm

A pfd can be good insulation, it'll help keep you warm.

Here is some useful info on hypothermia....

http://www.outdooradventurecanada.com/safety-v2-1.htm

Laurie
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
www.outdooradventurecanada.com
www.wildernesscooking.com

I wanted to post a ppt I put together for Paramedics last spring. It dealt with immersion in cold water and what happens to the victims. Interesting stuff really with alot of content on falling into swollen cold Rivers.

I will Summarize for this feed. When you first fall in you either go under or stay above goes without saying. Either way your first response is to gasp for a breath. This is involuntary and your ability to hold your breath drops by 90%. This is why PFDs are so important. About 25% of victims drown because of this long before Hypothermia sets in. The elderly may just suffer cardiac arrest.

Then you start to hyperventilate, your heart rate sky rockets and your body forces blood to your core to keep your vital organs warm. This is great for your vital organs but as a result your muscles dont get nutrients and oxygen to keep going. Your ability to swim is drastically reduced. Hence why you get fatigued so quickly. The key here is to tuck your legs up close to your body and conserve your heat and energy. Or if your treading water to do so calmly, in a river the current you wont be able to fight and the river sucks you midstream regardless. By treading water passively you conserve the energy you have. Best thing to do is assess the situation and plan an escape.

In the next stage, your breathing returns to normal and although you arnt clinically hypothermic your brain starts to misbehave due to lack of nutrients and oxygen. Victims tend to be uninterested in their own rescue.

Eventually the heart stops.

The really interesting thing comes for those who are rescued. Its called blood dropping. Its a reaction to rough handling during rescue or fast re warming. All the blood that has been pushed to your bodies core is released into the extreamities. This not only drops your blood pressure significantly, but the blood picks up toxins that have been building up and rushes them back to the vital organs. This causes organ failure and shockingly 20% of people who are rescued succumb later because of this. This is why it is crcucial to handle people gently and warm them slowly.

All of this and still not hypothermic, not by the clinical definition anyways. So as was stated earlier you dont have to be hypothermic to be in trouble. In fat in the middle of the summer laying on the floor in your living room, you can get hypothermia if you dont move for a while. Happens in the elderly all the time.

How to avoid it, for me understanding and knowledge, and be prepared for the worst.

Chris

good and important read,
thanks guys


have back up plans always. consider that on any lake, channel, you may tip.
what will you be doing? someone is guiding your trip-- people are looking up to someone. who is that person and what is their plan? the issue is a timely one, you need to know exactly what rescue process undergoes when your boat, or their boat, or all boats, go over. you dont have time to invent processes. only time to follow them.

communicate these with your trip before trip and at the put in, then remind each morning. when bad conditions begin (wind and waves) have everyone thinking toward rescue and the processes while paddling.

-PACK according to capsize (what things will you need and quick?, how should boats be packed for max stabil?, tie bags in or do something simpler-- so they do not hinder rescue process. have a hypo pack ready, or make the equiv accessible)

-PLAY according to capsize (who paddles with who, cross or no cross, break or no break, kneel or sit, who leads who sweep etc)

-MOVE according to capsize (everyone knows the rescue process for each variation of capsize, water based then land. cooperation creates magical minutes)


-attach whistles to everyone, pfd's zipped and snug always, no rubber boots.
-everyone knows canoe over canoe rescue at least, practice if not.

can you imagine making a crossing, imagine this-- you and your pals, making a crossing, too far from a swim-in rescue. common situation it is. and you all go over, or 2 go over, or even 1. what process through that panic and scream undergoes? what keeps a dry boat staying upright, in the desperate flee to get out of the lake? know what you are going to do before you need to know.

algoalex



this thread should be bumped for a couple more weeks,

Good points alex, and yes the thread should go on. There is alot of good tips and knowledge in here even the most experienced can benefit from.

For rivers we havnt even touched on sweepers and hidden objects or hydraulics. So anyone wanting more should look into all of this.

Tacking is another technique to avoid capsizing in rough waters. It makes you more vulnerable being further from shore but usually makes the boat more stable. Tacking is the long process of criss crossing back and forth across a body of water. Sailors use it alot to travel into the wind. With a canoe it is just safer to cut at about a 45 degree angle to the waves one way then turn and repeat going the other direction. It takes alot longer but I find it is safer for risky crossings when you have to go.

As for loading the canoe Bill Masons Path of the paddle is a good resource for the basics. The biggest thing I find is that people weigh down the stern of the canoe. This works well travelling into the wind or waves as it makes the bow more buoyant. What gets missed is that when travelling with the wind the weight should be shifted forward as well as the stern paddler. A wave across the stern is a surprise for most but just as dangerous as one over the bow.

I always carry a knife on my lifejacket as well as a compass, dry matches, survival kit and foil emergency blanket. The essentials for me and my comfort level in the bush. The knife I like to have for quick access to cut free of any thing that may wrap me up and leave me unable to swim free of the canoe.

Foil blankets are excellent for rewarming to, improvising shelter or whatever else you can think of. If you can get fire going use it around your back and its a reflector oven for cold people.

Know your limits and the limits of others in your group. Like was said prepare for the worst know what will happen and ensure that you know the skills you may need in those situations.

A day travel by canoe is three or four on foot,
There is no such thing as a tippy canoe only tippy people!
If you question the atbility of the boat Knees on the bottom

Chris

Quick hypothermia test. Touch your baby finger to your thumb. Having trouble? Then you need an external source of heat.

For me I wear neoprene pants, socks and shirt under a paddle jacket. A wool touque and a paddling fleece if necessary. I also have neoprene gloves.

Dress for the swim, not for the paddle.

And remember if someone has hypothermia they need an external source of heat. Warm dry clothes will not do as they have lost the ability to generate heat on their own.