Respect the wilderness...

Safety Tips for the River! 

Where there are no sidewalks.

The successful hiker and paddler seldom has accidents, and when he or she does, they have a plan.  When I was a young man, my father taught me to be around guns.  He had a respect for them, that had dignity in the way he handled them, used them, and stored and cleaned them.  I could never imagine being with someone that didn't have these principals, and saw them violating their privilege of guns through carelessness.  The outdoors itself should be viewed the same, as a dangerous place, because it is difficult to get assistance, and extra care is needed.  An excellent outdoorsman has frequent trips with no accidents.  This is a true "outdoor principal that carries dignity".  Preparation is key, and knowledge is golden, in that golden hour.  Be a safe paddler and hiker, and you will want to go back again, and again, and again...

"Where there are no sidewalks, help could be hours away..."

• Rule Number One!  Do not stand up in a rapid!  You can catch your foot and drown in shallow rapids!  Swim on your back and point feet down stream, angle your back towards the shore, and back stroke towards that eddy or shore.  Always look downstream.  Feet out front for impact.  Swim away from obstacles!  Have your PFD on!

• If you spill in your canoe or kayak, do not pull it behind you while swimming!  Push it away from you in a rapid.  The boat can fill with water, become very heavy, (30 gallons weighs 240#!), and trap you in a shallow rapid if it comes up behind you.  It is best to push the boat away, swim the rapid correctly as mentioned above, and recover gear and boat at the next pool.  Roll the water out of the boat, as it will be difficult to lift it.

• Stay clear of trees and root wads!  "Spot" by getting out of the boat if you have to, to see if the way is clear.  Many times you can swing the approach wide to get a clear visual.  All root wads and trees in rivers are dangerous.  The upper side of all objects should be avoided, (upstream side), and the downstream side is the safe side, usually an eddy where the water is much slower, sometimes with re-circulation upstream.

• Alcohol really does not mix with the river.  Equilibrium is reduced, decision making is compensated, and there is so much to enjoy in the outdoors, that it is worth rediscovering, straight!  Alcohol is involved in many river accidents that could have been prevented.

•  Wear your PFD!  It is worth investing in a good wearable floatation device.  Many styles put the padding in front, and high in back for recreational kayak seat clearance, and with the attitude of doing it right and wearing your PFD, you and your friends are safer!

• Do not dive in the river!  I once saw a rather intoxicated young man, thinking he was a hero, dove in to rescue the river from an empty beer can.  He dove in head first, to swim the rapid with a bleeding head.

• Paddle in pairs.  There is safety in numbers.  In groups, use the buddy system.  Watch out for each other's welfare.  A second person is needed for getting help, or getting you free if you get trapped on land or water.  Staying within visual distance is a good wilderness practice.  Two way communication with GPS is excellent too!  Take your cell phone, and go to the nearest tall hill for a signal in case of emergency.

• If you spend a lot of time outdoors, know CPR, and other certifications such as Wilderness First Aid, First Responder, and Wilderness First Responder.  These classes are 8 hours long, 16 hours, 40 hours, 80 hours respectively, and the information could save your loved one!  Ask your instructor about the Good Samaritan Law, that does allow you to help someone without fear of being sued.  It is time for help and if you are there, "just do your best" and follow through until someone more qualified can take over.  If you have to go for help, stabilize them first, and mark or identify your trail clearly on your way out so that someone can go back in for the assistance they need.

• Carry a first aid kit with Benedryl for suppression of reactions to stings, bites, and ivy.  Be creative in a need for a splint, or a small roll up style is available thru any drug store.  First aid kit should be complete with scissors, disinfectant, bandages, and snake bite kit.  A candy bar will help blood sugar levels of a diabetic!

• Where there are no sidewalks, and you are a great distance from help if you can't walk, respect that distance and time to outside help.  Treat each step when hiking as sure footed as you can, as your "ankles and legs" need to be protected and respected.  Don't run or jump around!  Watch where you are going, don't take wild chances that might result in injury, and have a methodical visual and surefooted approach to your hike, especially with a backpack!  Respect heights where there are no railings, as many injuries are due to falls.  Do not climb unless you are trained and have a safety partner with you!  Do it right!

•  Respect your gear, on or off the water.  It has to last you through the trip.  Splashing with paddles, many times, breaks the paddle, and injury can result in swinging your paddle close to someone else.  The blades are dangerous, so carry your paddle with respect.

• Stay clear of your friends through a rapid.  We say, "Give me some paddle space!"  Give them a chance to maneuver the rapid with their own skill, and not be required to compensate, (if they can), because you are crowding them.  If you are running safety, go down first, and eddy out below, close to where the threat is.  Get out of your boat, and with your rescue throw bag, be ready to assist.

• Know your take out, and continue to make time so that you are not caught in the dark.  Missing a take out could put you several miles from the next access, and "you will not be, where they know you to be". 

• Make sure someone knows where you are, map and all!  This allows for a rescue when you did not send for help, but may be trapped and are "late".  Check in with the local ranger station too, if there is one.  They are there to help support you and make your trip safer!

• Wear apparel designed for the outdoors.  The wicking features are valuable with materials such as polypro, polyester fleece, and shell materials to shield from outside moisture.  Separate layers are best.  This allows you to be comfortable, whether hiking, paddling, or evenings by the campfire.  Cotton pulls valuable temperature from your body when soaked, and does not work well in case of a cool weather paddling spill.  A change of clothes in a dry bag is a must in these cases.  Warm the body up as soon as you can.  Take care of your body temperature and correct it if it is violated.  It is your best friend. 

• Make sure your friends know of any medical conditions!  This is not the time to be bashful.  You might be incoherent when you need to tell them where your say, "insulin is"!  Many people will stare at you when you have a problem like that, but if instructed ahead of time, it gives them a course of action to think about.

• Pack and Drink plenty of fluids.  Use a filtration system if you need to take water from the wild.  Never drink it straight from the river.

• Exercise care with campfires, so you don't burn yourself or start a forest fire.  Windy conditions and dry humidity are dangerous.  Dig a small fire pit, make your fire no larger than you need it, and bury the fire remains.