Wilderness Travel
Located in the northeastern corner of Minnesota is a beautiful, serene wilderness area called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness or BWCAW. The BWCAW lies along the US/Canadian border and consists of nearly one million acres. This is the only wilderness of its kind found in the Unites States specifically designated for canoe camping. The adjacent Canadian Wilderness, the Quetico Provincial Park of Ontario, is also comprised of over one million acres of canoe wilderness. Both areas provide visitors with a variety of vacation opportunities and challenges. As with any wilderness area, there is also the possibility of injury or even in some extreme cases, death. This information page will discuss ways to prevent injuries, along with some of the most common injuries & treatments (based on published first aid guides).
Prevention
Everyone knows that prevention is always the best medicine. Here are some tips to keep in mind that will help you avoid potential injuries:
1. Canoe and portage within your abilities.
2. Take rest breaks as needed.
3. Drink at least two quarts of water daily.
4. Wear adequate foot protection while portaging and swimming.
5. Treat or filter your drinking water.
6. Use sun screen on both sunny and overcast days
7. Always wear a life jacket while canoeing.
8. Cliff diving and jumping should occur only after a complete survey of water and any rocks below the site. The activity should only take place if approved and supervised by a responsible adult. Only jump feet first.
9. Avoid rock or cliff climbing unless properly trained and equipped for the activity.
10. Always wear a life jacket if your swimming skills are basic, or if swimming around areas of current.
11. Avoid running rapids of any size with a canoe.
12. Be familiar with edible and non-edible plants and berries or avoid consuming them altogether.
13. Use canoes and equipment as instructed and within the manufacturers guidelines.
How to Avoid Major Injuries
Using common sense, not pushing ones self beyond personal limits, and having a respect for the potential dangers of wilderness travel will keep 99% of canoe campers safe and free from major injuries. Since immediate medical help can be up to a day's travel away, knowing how to splint a leg, provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to the trip is advisable. Should a severe injury occur, use the following check list to ensure the victim will be as comfortable as possible until help arrives.
Caring For A Victim With Major Injuries
Remove victim to a safe spot if they are in a dangerous or life threatening location. DO NOT immediately move them if a neck or back injury is suspected. Instead, properly immobilize the neck and back before moving to prevent further injury.
1. Calm victim.
2. Control any bleeding.
3. Ensure an open air passage.
4. Check pulse.
5. Keep victim warm and quiet.
6. Treat for shock
7. Check pupils if head injury is suspected.
Ways To Obtain Help In The Wilderness
The US Forest Service does two fly overs daily to check for forest fires and lightening strikes during the canoe season. If they spot a distress signal from the air they will check it out. Be advised that there are substantial fees involved for having injured canoeists flown out of the wilderness. The Quetico Park does not do daily fly overs, but they do have rangers that circulate through the wilderness area. These rangers are trained in first aid and typically carry radios to signal for assistance.
First Aid Kit
A properly equipped first aid kit should contain the following items:
Ace bandage
Gauze pad
Roll of gauze bandage
First Aid tape
Assortment of bandages
First aid cream
Aloe vera gel
Ibuprofen or aspirin
Thermometer
Tweezers
Petroleum jelly
Calamine lotion
Bug Bites
May through mid-July is typically the peak bug season in the north country. While the BWCAW can boast that it has no poisonous insects, some individuals do experience discomfort or allergic reactions to bug bites.
The trademark signs of black fly (sand fly) and mosquito bites are redness, itching and some swelling. Wash the affected area with soap and water and apply calamine lotion to ease swelling and irritation. Bug bite balms may also be used.
Wood ticks are about 1/8 of an inch in size. They prefer areas covered with hair. The wood tick can be removed by covering it with with a large amount of petroleum jelly. This will block the breathing pores and cause the tick to back out on its own or suffocate. It may take up to thirty minutes before your can remove the tick if it does not back out on its own. Slowly and carefully remove the tick, be sure that the head remains intact with the body. If the head or jaws remains in the victims flesh, infection and possible disease can occur.
Deer tick is approximately the size of a pin head and can easily be missed. If a reddish circle appears around a small bite mark, see a doctor immediately (this could be the onset of Lyme disease). If found embedded in the flesh, a deer tick can be removed by the same method as the Wood tick.
Heat Stroke & Heat Exhaustion
After traveling for hours by canoe in the hot sun, one can easily become overwhelmed by the heat. The symptoms of heat stroke include: a high body temperature (102 degrees or more); hot, dry, red skin; a pulse that is strong and rapid; and the victim may loose consciousness. This can be a life-threatening situation! Get the victim into the lake and immerse their body while supporting their head and neck above water. This will help to lower their body temperature. Do not over chill the victim. After two to three minutes, check their temperature. If it has fallen below 102 degrees, remove them from the water and place them in a cool, shady spot. Be prepared, however, to put them back in the water if their temperature goes back up.
Heat exhaustion exhibits a different set of ailments. The body temperature remains almost normal, but the victim will show some of the following symptoms; pale and clammy skin, profuse perspiration, tiredness, weakness, headache, cramps, nausea, dizziness, vomiting or fainting. To relieve heat exhaustion, give the victim sips of salt water. The mixture of salt to water should be one teaspoon to one cup. They should drink about half a cup every fifteen minutes over an hours time. Have the victim lie down in a cool, shady spot. Elevate their feet about eight to twelve inches with a foam mattress or sleeping bag. Apply cool rags to their face and neck. If the victim can not keep fluids down, it will be imperative that they receive immediate medical help. An individual recovering from heat exhaustion should avoid physical exertion for several days.
Sunburn
Whether it's a sunny or overcast day out, burning ultra violet rays still enter our atmosphere. It is very important to wear sunscreen on any skin that is exposed. For those who are fair skinned it is a good idea to wear a light layer of loose clothing at all times, on all body parts. In the event that the canoeist becomes burned, cool affected areas in the lake, apply a coating of aloe vera gel to the burn and stay out of the sun. If you have to be out, wear a light layer of loose clothing over the sun burned areas. Severe sunburn (second degree burn or more) should receive medical attention as quickly as possible.
Burns
Burns from touching hot pots, hot water or bumping into hot fire grates are also common. Like sunburn, cool burned area in the lake and apply aloe vera gel. (Do not do this if victim has third degree burns.) Do not break blisters or remove any tissue.
First degree burns typically result in redness or discoloration, swelling, and pain, but will heal quickly. Second degree burns exhibit a red mottled appearance, develop blisters, and will swell over several days. Third degree burns will appear deep red in color, then depending on the damage sustained, will develop a white or charred appearance. Victims with second and third degree burns should always seek immediate medical assistance.
Dehydration
Drinking at least two quarts of water (per person daily) will help north woods travelers avoid dehydration. Before starting your day of travel, sight seeing or fishing, prepare a two quart bottle of water and stow it in a back pack or hip belt for use later. After each portage, or throughout the day, pause to take a drink of water to replenish any lost fluids. On long travel days or during hot weather, plan to drink even more water to stay hydrated. Signs of dehydration include; constant thirst, a dry mouth, weakness, and a lack of sweat when active. Avoid caffeinated and alcoholic beverages � they only dehydrate you further.
Giardia
The water is crystal clear throughout the wilderness areas, but don't let that fool you into not treating your drinking water. Giardia is an organism that exists invisibly in most lakes throughout the Boundary Waters and Quetico wildernesses. Giardia is transmitted through the feces of beavers. It takes about 10 to 14 days before the symptoms of vomiting and diarreha occur. Medication from a physician is required to cure giardia.
Cuts & Scrapes
The rough and rocky terrain of the northwoods is an open invitation for cuts and scrapes. Rinse and clean the damaged area. Apply first aid cream to the injury and cover with a clean bandage. Keep injury clean and replace the bandage as needed to prevent infection.
Sprains & Strains
Hefting a heavy pack across a long portage, or putting in a long day of strenuous paddling can leave a canoe camper with a feeling of accomplishment, or if not done with some caution and common sense, a whole lot of pain. A sprain can be a partial tear or stretching of a joint ligament or tendon. A strain results from over stretching a muscle. Both can range from a minor irritation to major pain and agony. Minor sprains and strains can be treated by soaking the affected part in the lake. Taking one or two Ibuprofen can alleviate some of the soreness and swelling with these injuries. An ace bandage can be used on an ankle or wrist to provide additional support and protection. Severe sprains and strains should receive medical attention as soon as possible.
Fish Hooks
All it takes is one solid cast, a quick jerk of the wrist, and guess what� you just hooked your canoe partner. If the hook is in a non-vital area (finger, hand, etc.) and the barb has not been fully embedded, the hook can be easily removed, cleaned and bandaged. If the hook is deeply embedded, and in a non-vital area (away from eyes, arteries, etc.) the hook can be pushed through so that the barb completely protrudes. The barb is then clipped off and the hook pushed back out the way it went in. Thoroughly clean the wound and bandage. See a doctor as soon as possible. If the hook is embedded in any vital area, or the location is questionable, clip off the lure leaving only the hook, and seek medical assistance immediately. Clean the area to avoid infection.
Hypothermia
Spring and fall trips offer an opportunity for visitors to see more wildlife and fewer people, but there are drawbacks � colder air and water temperatures. The colder conditions , if canoeists are not properly prepared, can lead to hypothermia. Symptoms include shivering, numbness, low body temperature, drowsiness, and muscular weakness. The victims body temperature must be raised as quickly as possible. Remove any wet or damp clothing. Dry off body and head if wet. Place the victim and yourself in a sleeping bag and use your body heat to raise the victims core temperature. Give the victim warm liquids (not alcohol) by mouth if conscious.