 We take safety importantly at London canoes. We supply safety hats, buoyancy aids all to British and or EU standards. You are expected to use these items. Your guides are all first aid trained are competent canoeist and have had life guard training. The guides are experienced and will do every thing to make your day fun, but keep it safe. We liaise with the environmental agency and British water ways to ensure the water is safe to use.
leptospirosis
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Weil's disease
This is a serious and sometimes fatal infection that is transmitted to humans by contact with urine from infected rats.
The Hardjo form of leptospirosis
This is transmitted from cattle to humans.
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What are the symptoms?
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Both diseases start with a flu-like illness with a persistent and severe headache
Canal water does carry the virus but it is rare for canoeist to get it. you can reduce the chances by covering open wounds and not drinking the water.
Hypothermia: Impacts & Prevention
What is it?
Hypothermia is probably responsible directly or indirectly for more kayaking deaths than all other factors combined. Although death by drowning may be the coroner's verdict in many kayaking deaths, the actual cause of drowning is frequently unconsciousness due to hypothermia. Because it is the number one killer, it is vital that hypothermia be thoroughly understood so that early symptoms can be readily recognized and appropriate precautions be taken when paddling in cold climates. There are two basic types of hypothermia:
A: exposure (gradual) - steady heat loss in a cold environment through respiration, evaporation (sweat, wet clothes) or inadequate insulation (radiation
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B: immersion (acute) - rapid heat loss through conduction to cold water, characterized by fast onset (10-30 minutes in ocean water)
Type A hypothermia can occur easily enough during any outdoor excursion, especially in wilderness situations where weather conditions may deteriorate unexpectedly or where travelers may become lost, injured or exhaust their food supplies prematurely.
Kayaking presents the added possibility of immersion, or Type B hypothermia. In almost all weather conditions, the body cools up to 25 times faster in water than in air. Although water temperatures in the coastal areas of Britain vary widely with location and season, typical sea surface temperatures vary from about 8 degrees C in winter to a maximum of 20 degrees C in sheltered areas in summer.
Symptoms and reactions
Faced with a cold environment, the body tries to defend itself in two ways: shivering, to increase muscle heat production; and blood shunting, to reduce heat loss by diverting blood flow away from the body extremities to the body core.
Mild hypothermia occurs as the body's core temperature drops below it's normal 37 degrees C. In the early stages, vigorous shivering is usually accompanied by increased pulse and breathing rates. Cold, white hands and feet (as the blood vessels in the skin constrict) are the first signs of blood being shunted away from the body's extremities.
Irrationality and irritability are early behavioral signs of hypothermia. Hence it is not safe to rely on members of your group recognizing the onset of hypothermia in themselves. In cold conditions, keep watch for symptoms in everybody. Pay close attention to anybody who is confused, abnormally clumsy, paddling off-course, or otherwise behaving erratically.
Severe hypothermia results as the body temperature drops below 33 degrees C. Shunting of blood continues, manifesting as blue-ish (cyanotic) lips and fingertips from poor oxygenation of the tissues near the body surface. Decreased circulation also results in a buildup of acid metabolites (waste products) in the muscles of the extremities until shivering stops and is replaced by muscular rigidity. The pulse and respirations begin to slow as the body core cools to 30 degrees C.
Below core temperature of 33 degrees C, the vital organs are beginning to get cold. As the brain cools, brain cell metabolism slows, resulting in impaired brain function. The level of consciousness deteriorates from confusion and despair to disinterest, incoherence and eventual unconsciousness. Below 30 degrees C, signs of life are very difficult to detect and the patient may be mistaken for dead. The pupils of the eyes will be dilated and fixed. The pulse may be undetectable. Occasional gasps of respiration at a rate as low as 4 or 5 per minute may be the only clue that the patient is still alive. A victim who has not already drowned through unconsciousness or loss of dexterity may die by means of heart failure.
Treatment
Mild Hypothermia
If the casualty is conscious, talking clearly and sensibly and shivering vigorously, then:
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encourage physical activities to generate muscle heat
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get the person out of the water to a dry sheltered area
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replace wet clothing with dry layers, covering the head, neck and hands
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apply hot packs, water bottles, or warm campfire rocks wrapped in hot, wet towels to the groin, head, neck and sides of the chest
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supply ribena or other glucose/energy giving drinks- and alcohol/caffeine-free drinks (alcohol and tobacco cause heat loss and should not be given)
The guides all carry exposure blankets in their first aid kits and have first aid training. help them to help you if you do fall in the water let them render first aid even if you don't think you need it. They are experienced enough to know when and if there is a need to issue the blanket.
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