Cold water exposure kills - please be safe

B

buckchaser

CGN Regular
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Ottawa
Cold water exposure kills. This past weekend in Algonquin Provincial Park I was the principal rescuer in a situation that reinforced this reality. While this was not a hunting-related trip, hunters are an "at risk" group in a northern climate like Canada whether boating to a duck blind, canoeing to a deer stand, jet boating into a remote river, etc.

At the risk of unmasking my CGN moniker, I've attached the link to my wife's blog - the full story is told there. Please be safe this season.

http://www.kpwoutdoors.com/blog/opeongo-lake-rescue-october-10th-2020
 
Great job OP. My friend and 2 of his friends are alive today because of his Spot device (and wearing PFDs). Wind came up, their small boat swamped in the Northwest Territory in late spring a couple years ago. By the time they were rescued speech and helping the rescuers was almost impossible.
 
Well done buckchaser. As sad as it is that there was a loss of life, I’m thankful it wasn’t worse and especially thankful it wasn’t you or your wife. Other people’s lack of experience or preparedness can lead to tragedy for more than just themselves. So glad you and the other rescuers survived.
 
Good on you buckchaser. Sometimes when long in the tooth some of us get complacient and I have not stepped into a boat probably a decade.
Two winters ago I was late afternoon rabbit hunting and desired to try an approach from the north edge a well hunted private property of a good friend. Of course I was in a rush with fading afternoon light.

I stopped along a grid road to walk into the supposedly fully frozen ditch edge of that north field. In fact it just barely froze over the night before! Yay. Four feet of bone chilling swamp water!
Including my shotgun full of slush and mud.

It was a cold drive home!
And a very rude lesson for myself.
 
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Thanks for sharing. This is eye-opeining.
You mentioned that when on-shore there was no-one with any medical training.

I would be interested in similar medical training. Do you have any suggestions?
 
Ian Sa said:
Thanks for sharing. This is eye-opeining.
You mentioned that when on-shore there was no-one with any medical training.

I would be interested in similar medical training. Do you have any suggestions?
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Standard First Aid is a great starting point. Yes, it is quite basic - but very useful. There are several providers like the Red Cross.

Wilderness First Responder training is a level up. Much more detailed, focused on the kind of situations people in the "backwoods" are likely to face.
 
btabin said:
You really stepped up. Obviously condolences to the relatives of the deceased, but how are you holding up?
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Pretty well so far - thanks for asking.

I've been kayaking for 20 plus years - Class V/V+ whitewater in my 20s, transitioned to wilderness canoe trips / sea kayaking due to injury in my 30s. In that time period I've been involved in several rescue scenarios, but this was the first one with a fatality.

Knowing I did my best to help does put my mind at ease - but there are a few images that will take some time to process.
 
Be mindful of how this may affect yourself and your wife. Talking with family, close friends or clergy can be very helpful in the aftermath of stressful events like this.

Difficulty sleeping, headaches, loss of appetite, changes in normal moods/behavior are some things to be watchful of.

You did good!
 
OP, tip of the hat to you and your efforts. Sad outcome, but you know you did what you could and that is the takeaway.

WRT Opeongo, that lake is no joke! My wife & I wrecked our boat there in 2012. The weather went from bluebird to terrible in minutes & we were blown onto the rocks busting up our jon boat with 9.9hp. I patched it up with plugs I carved where the ribs in the boat were pushed up & rivets popped.

Edited to add: Opeongo is the reason I sold my 1448 jon boat and moved on to a 14' Princecraft Yukon with full transom and a long shaft 15hp 2stroke. WAY more stable in bad weather.
 
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Living near Algonquin park, one hears some hair-raising stories about Opeongo. Most are about the weather getting nasty very quickly.
 
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Damn.

Thank you for the effort you put forward in your rescue. I sincerely hope that you are able to move forward with the knowledge that you were able to save souls. It would have been far worse had you not arrived.
 
Spread awareness as far as word will travel and teach all who will listen, the dangers that lie in wait and how to safely attempt water rescue

Way to go !
 
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