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Showing posts from March, 2013

Wilderness First Aid

Arm splinted, reviewing first aid kit essentials Moulton and Paul immobilize Steve's head after a simulated neck injury Chesapeake Paddlers Association organized a special American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid (WFA) class for its trip leaders. If McGuyver and Clara Barton had ever hooked up the result would have been WFA - it's learning to give aid when you're far from help, using only the items you have available (splinting with kayak paddles, etc.). The course was expertly taught by Red Cross-ers & CPA members Tom & Paul, who provided two months worth of classroom knowledge in two days while still getting us out of our seats for lots of scenario-based learning. I learned how unlucky Ralph is - over the course of the weekend he suffered three heart attacks, rolled down an embankment twice, and suffered a few other injuries. Not to worry - he was just the "victim volunteer" and survived all of his injuries. Alas, the same could not be said for p...

Back in the Paddle Saddle

I must be getting old in my old age. Or at least my friends are. I found myself in mid-March with virtually no kayak seat-time under my belt for the year to date - a far cry from the old Ice Pirates days of going out Thursday nights year-round. I tried to organize an Ice Pirates outing for Pi day (3/14) but got no takers - but I didn't give up. I kept trying and recruited Tall Tom to go kayaking with me on Sunday morning. Our plan was to meet at Columbia Island at 9 AM. I got there about ten minutes before nine and to my surprise Tom, who is always early, wasn't there. It was daylight savings weekend and I so I immediately started wondering whether he had forgotten to set his clock and if so, what I should do - keep the boat on the car? go paddling anyway? Well, while I was still mulling this over Tom pulled in, right on time - which is late for Tom, if you know what I mean. After spending some time admiring his shiny new Impreza (I am now officially the last kayaker on ear...