More and more, we are increasingly aware that our paddlers sometimes have to deal with chronic medical issues. If you need medications, it is probably best to have spares along, suitably wrapped in a waterproof container, - and ask if they can be carried in somebody else's boat in case yours goes belly-up and everything gets soaked.

 

 

If you are not comfortable in telling the trip leader, please try to make sure someone else in the group knows if you have a chronic condition that might show up at an unfortunate time. I'm thinking of something like diabetes, where it would be helpful if someone in the group knows what might be happening, and the appropriate actions to take if an event happens. Or asthma, with the need to have an inhaler and a spare.

 

This needs to be handled diplomatically. Many of us are uncomfortable sharing what kinds of chronic medical issues we are dealing with, and would just as soon not tell or talk about them with strangers or particularly, the trip leader. The trip leader, however, may have legal responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of the people on the trip. If you are uncomfortable with sharing these issues with the trip leader, or don’t want them carrying your spare medications, I would ask that you find a friend who will be travelling in a different boat, and inform them, and ask them to take a cache of spare medications for you.

 

Terry also reminded me that spare medications usually also cost money that many of us can rarely spare. It is all very complicated, and needs to be handled with tact and care. Be aware, however, that accidents, illnesses, and stress happen on a trip and may impact your need for medications while on a trip, and if someone else knows what is going on, they might be able to easily help you deal with an emergency, that would not be as easily handled if no one else knows what is going on.

You never know what might happen on a trip, and you, and the trip leader, need to be prepared.

 

 

The author, Harmon Everett