|
Kayak First Aid
You have probably put a lot of hours of thought into what
type yak you need, what type rod and reel, even what type
of line to use. It's important to devote some of that pre-fishing
thinking time to the clothing, PFD, and first aid kit you
want to have with you. It's time to consider what risks
you may encounter and how you are going to deal with them
if one or even two happen to you. Let's break them down
into some manageable blocks.
Water safety.. a PFD and clothing
With the intimacy of a kayak to the water comes the risk
of ending up in the water. Think about this before you go
out. How would it feel to be in 65, or 55, or even 45-degree
water in sweat pants and a sweatshirt? What alternatives
do you have to wear not only for flotation, but also for
prevention of hypothermia? It's a real threat for a kayaker,
even if you don't end up in the water. Water dripping off
of yaks, subtle waves here and there over the sidewall all
contribute to your getting wet. How will you get dry and
how will you warm up again. Should you become wet, will
the clothing you're using insulate you or pull your body
heat away from you. Plan ahead. Waterproof clothing is a
must. This coupled with a flotation system that will support
your unconscious weight should an accident occur resulting
in such. Will you be in a heads up position that gives you
a fighting chance in a worst-case scenario that you are
ejected from your kayak? The minimal PFD should be a Coast
Guard approved type DI. The fit has to be proper so it can't
be pulled over your head. Put on the PFD and have someone
try to pull it over your head. You'd be amazed how easily
some of the type III's come off. Straps cinched tightly
and size appropriate vests can help prevent this. You might
consider the type II if you're not a strong water person.
Before going out get in the water and have someone help
you testing out your system. Not only for dryness but ease
of re-entry back into the yak Pretend that you're unconscious,
face down, and see what your PFD does. Type m ' s have a
limited ability to turn an unconscious person face up. If
you're wearing waders, be sure to secure the chest strap
to minimize the water intake if you end up in it. Full waders
make surviving a dunking not impossible, but much more difficult.
Puncture wounds
the dreaded hook up. Probably the second greatest risk we
kayaker's share is the potential for self, or even fish,
inflicted hook-ups. What are you going to do with 10 pounds
of angry blue fish attached to your dominant hand by a 3/0
treble hook? What if you try to dislodge that snagged weighted
hook and it flies back at you and catches you in the head?
Be prepared. It is highly recommended that you remove the
barbs from your kayak fishing lures and obviously the fewer
the hooks on the lure the better. Barbless hooks, especially
ones where the barb has been ground off come out easily
and cause minimal damage. If you use a barbed hook you should
have a method of cutting a hook quickly while on the water.
Probably the best available tool is a lineman's cutter.
This will disengage the fish from the plug, and possibly
the plug from the hand Once the fish is removed, or the
lure removed, assess where the hook is anchored. Is it just
a little fleshy spot? Or does it look like it's got real
meat. Don't just push that hook through without thinking
to yourself, could I make this worse? Could the hook be
entangled in something important inside? If there is copious
bleeding, associated numbness, or near a sense organ like
eyes/ears/mouth, you may want a skilled medical professional
to take that out. Take out the gauze and tape, and secure
the hook into a stable position and paddle in if possible
or have someone take you in to shore for medical care. A
missed day of fishing to repair a wound is better than the
missed use of a nerve damaged finger or even worse. If the
wound is only flesh deep and no hook remains, cleanse the
wound as best you can, apply some antibiotic salve, and
then cover well with a band-aid and dressing. Be sure to
see your medical professional ASAP for a tetanus shot if
you're not up to date.
WARNING: PUNCTURE WOUNDS GET INFECTED VERY EASILY, Antibiotics
may be required. Don't cut the hook at the curve of the
barb that's embedded itself in your skin. The barbed tip
of a hook can migrate deep into your skin and require a
much more complicated (surgical) removal. You can push through
a covered point and barb and cut on the retrieved side.
What else can go wrong?
Be sure to cover your skin in just about any daylight situation.
Clouds don't stop U.V. rays. Nasty sunburn can ruin the
next few days after a good trip. Not to mention increasing
your risk for skin cancer. A broad billed hat is good as
well as high SPF sun lotion Light, long sleeved clothing
in warm weather can be worn under your PFD. Usually insects
are not a problem but should you encounter them having repellent
can make a huge difference. You might have to hike through
tall grass to get to that secret spot. Ticks can be a serious
problem. No one wants Lyme disease. Check for ticks; look
especially at the edges of clothing and body creases. They're
small so be thorough. An insect spray applied with rubber
gloves, to keep it off your hands, will help against any
flying critters. Jelly fish stings can and do happen. Some
stinging's are resolved with an application of heat to the
wound and others may require some vinegar. Determine which
jelly fish or stinging critters are predominating in your
area and have some of the specific treatments on hand.
Your kayaks first aid kit
You can't carry everything so don't try to. Good pliers,
some clean water or normal saline is good to have for wound
cleaning and to get the sand out of your eyes. Band-Aid's,
in several sizes, should be in a waterproof bag. Triple
antibiotic cream is worth the investment. If you are on
medication, have medical problems, or have allergies, include
a copy of your meds/problems on a card in the first aid
kit. They can really help in a stressful situation. Some
Tylenol or Advil, not expired, comes in handy too. Be sure
to have a small roll of tape, and a roll of gauze. That
should do it. A little forethought, some minimal planning,
and an eye to prevention could turn a minor problem to a
major disaster into a salvageable fishing trip.
<<
Back to Kayak Fishing Guide
Provided by: Joe Cambria
website: www.kayakfishingstuff.com
|
