“It’s Not The Heat, it’s the…”
NO, REALLY. IT’S THE HEAT!
334 people died in Texas last year due to heat. “Heat is the No. 1 weather-related cause of death in our country” said Hosmay Lopex, an oceanographer at NOAA. “Whether you’re young and healthy, or old, Heat doesn’t care.”
When we are out on the water, we tend to think that the water will moderate the temperature, so we don’t have to worry so much about getting too hot. We can always splash water on ourselves, right?
But, just as we can miss the signals that we are dehydrated and need to drink more, sometimes we miss the signals that we are too hot, and might need to cool off and get out of the Sun.
If we are out in the Sun, being active, we expect to have hot, red skin, right? When is it too much?
When our pulse starts going crazy, and we get dizzy, somewhat confused, and maybe feel sick. Get out of the Sun, sip some water, and rest. It also helps to drench your skin with cool water. If our bodies get too hot, some of our internal organs and brains start shutting down.
Paddlers in the Texas Water Safari often use purposely-made towel collars that they soak with water and fill with ice cubes to put around their necks to keep cool.
Terry modeling the towel collar.
The collars are doubled over, and have pockets sewn into them to hold ice.
They also work nicely if just soaked with river water.
The water off Galveston today is 86.9°F, and it looks like it will only get hotter as the summer progresses. So, pay attention to getting too hot. And pay attention to the children around you getting too hot, or sunburned. Wear hats, long sleeved shirts, and sunscreen.
I remember once, as a Boy Scout, I went on a weekend paddle trip, and only wore a swimsuit all weekend. When I returned home, I was a shivering mass of sunburn over my entire body. I was only able to tolerate a thin damp sheet gently laid over me. Don’t do that.
I told a joke that I’d learned on the trip, and it shocked my mom so much, she slapped my leg. The pain was a level ten. A level 10 pain is when you scream and pass out.
When I recovered, I had blisters where she had slapped, and I had scars for 30 years.
Heat, heat stroke, and sunburn are nothing to play with. Take precautions, and if you find yourself getting woozy from the heat, get some place and get wet to cool off.
If you pass out, or vomit, call 911 and get professional help.
Be safe out there!
See you On The Water!
Harmon