That being the case, I'm going to replay the story I mentioned above, because it involves a real-life situation, which Hall once found himself in while doing a segment for a kayak video series on Bassmaster, along with Thomas Allen, who, at the time, was senior editor of that publication. They were a week behind on production of these videos and decided to head to nearby Logan Martin Lake to knock out a couple, including a dock-skipping installment.
Said Hall, "We identified some good-looking docks in a pocket near the dam, but there was nowhere to launch the yaks from that side of the lake. So, we launched from the opposite bank and paddled our Hobies across the lake, which stretched about a mile.
"It was a pretty warm day for mid-April, as the afternoon temperature had reached 80 degrees," he continued. "Some would call that lovely. Allen, however, called it 'Africa hot,' if I remember correctly. He does have a fairly thick layer of internal insulation, so I typically add 10 degrees to the actual temperature to create the Allen Thermostat. Plus, for some reason, he was wearing two long-sleeved fishing shirts this particular day.
"Once we reached the creek lined with docks, we started fishing and filming. We couldn't have been more than an hour into casting when I heard Thomas screaming...and yes, it was a scream, not a yell. The senior editor employed a pitch in his voice usually reserved for girls under the age of 10, and then only when the aforementioned children were confronted by a snake, spider or surprise birthday party. Why the high-pitched call for distress? I had no idea but decided I'd better investigate.
"I immediately peddled to his side, preparing for the sight of blood, but there was none...nor was he impaled. So what's wrong? I asked."
"Dude, I seriously can't bend my leg! I'm in real trouble," said Allen.
At this point, Hall noticed an immense amount of sweat pouring down his friend's face. His skin was beet red, too.
"I knew he hadn't brought any water with him," said Hall, "and I couldn't remember his drinking anything on the drive down."
At this juncture, Hall paused his story long enough to note that heat-related injuries are no laughing matter. Heat cramps are the mildest form of overheating and most often occur in the legs. Next up is heat exhaustion, which can be identified by headache, nausea, dizziness, and heavy sweating and must be immediately treated with the intake of fluid and salt. If fluid is not consumed, the issue can progress to heat stroke, which can lead to death. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S., as more than 9,000 people died between 1979 and 2014, as a direct result of overexposure to heat.
Anglers, who certainly spend their fair share of time sweating the dog days while casting for bass, need to take precautions in order to survive the hottest days of the year. Drink plenty of water throughout your fishing excursion, and make sure your salt intake is significant (sports drinks take care of both these items). Wear breathable clothing, and if any of the above-mentioned symptoms appear, stop what you're doing immediately and head to a cool environment to rehydrate.
"Allen and I did exactly that," said Hall. "We tied his kayak to mine, and I peddled us back to the ramp. The videos could be shot another day. There is no fish worth risking the elevation of a heat-related injury. If you are fishing alone, call someone to let them know where you are, and describe your symptoms. If you are fishing with a partner, let him/her know, as well."
No comments:
Post a Comment