Can I drink the water?

Depends on where you are, and how resilient your stomach is. Definitely don’t drink it near a populated shore or in a boating channel. Boil or filter water for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth. See more information in the how pages.

Sun burn / Sun stroke / heat exhaustion / Sun blindness

You’re on the open water. It’s bright out there. Sun is coming down from above, and gets reflected off the water. It’s hot, and you’re wet with spray. You probably won’t notice these conditions coming on unless you’re watching for them.

Take a wilderness first aid course — there is no 911 out here, you’ll be treating someone for hours, if not days. At the very least, take a standard first aid course.

Tips:
• wear sunglasses that actually protect your eyes & wear them (overcast days can be deceiving)
• wear sunscreen and reapply it frequently (don’t forget your hands)
• wear long sleeves (and protect those lily-white legs when they’re outside the cockpit)
• wear a hat that protects your ears and the back of your neck too
• drink before you are thirsty — about 2-3 litres per person, per day minimum
• (if you’re not taking regular pee stops, you’re not drinking enough)
• get shade (see the how page for suggestions)

Rattlesnakes

The Massasauga Rattlesnake is rare and protected by law. They are not predatory. They use their bite as a defense. Leave them alone and they’ll leave you alone. Chances are you’ve camped near them all the time and didn’t even know it. At Killbear Provincial Park campers and rattlesnakes have learned to live side-by-side without incident. They’re proud of it!

Killing a rattlesnake will get you a $5000 fine.

Tips:
• watch where you step and put your hands
• wear shoes that cover you feet and ankles
• listen for the sound of rattling leaves
• move slowly away from any rattling sounds
• do not try to get a closer look at a rattlesnake
• do not try to move or capture a snake, they will move away by themselves
• the size of the snake does not indicate the amount of venom in its bite

If someone gets bitten:
This is a medical emergency.
1. Make the person rest and keep them calm.
2. arrange for transportation to hospital (your first aid and kayaking training will help you decide which way is best. You may be able to call a water taxi from the local marina, flag down another boater, or tow the person in their kayak — ugh!)
3. Keep the bite below the level of the heart.
4. Give first aid for other conditions as they arise but heed the “do not” items below. Folk cures can do a lot of harm in this situation.

Hospitals in rattlesnake territory keep antivenin on hand. There are only a couple of human deaths in recorded history and those people did not get medical attention for days. There are a few instances where dogs have died — so keep a watch on Fido and don’t let him harass a snake.

DO NOT cut the wound (this makes the situation worse)
DO NOT suck the venom out (it causes tissue damage and gets the venom in your mouth — bad situation)
DO NOT raise the limb — keep the bite below the level of the heart
DO NOT apply pressure or a tourniquet (this concentrates the venom, making the situation worse)
DO NOT apply ice (this changes the chemical nature of the venom, making the situation worse)