Drowning is silent, not the Hollywood version of splashing and screaming. When water enters a person’s nose and mouth and then airway, they can’t speak or call for help.

Drowning can also happen fast—in less than a minute, for a child. It’s the number one cause of death for children under age five. According to Stop Drowning Now, a water safety advocacy group, 88 percent of those drownings take place with at least one adult present.

Signs indicating distress include a person swimming ineffectively or bobbing in water in an uncoordinated way; unable to keep their head above water; unable to talk or yell; attempting to roll onto their back but being unsuccessful; and/or displaying a panicked facial expression.

At rivers and lakes, most drowning victims are teens and young adults (age 15-25). Even for those who know how to swim, prolonged immersion in cold water—any water less than 70 degrees Fahrenheit, which applies to all Northwest lakes and rivers—can lead to fatigue and hypothermia.

Spent energy and exhaustion can prevent people from keeping their head above water or make them too tired to shout for help. Head injury or other trauma (e.g. from cliff jumping, rope swinging) can also render a person unconscious and unable to stay above water.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

No one is ever too old (or too cool) to wear a life jacket. Even though I worked as a lifeguard for eight years and was a competitive swimmer, I still wear a PFD whenever swimming in a lake or river.

According to the experts from NRS (Northwest River Supplies), based in Moscow, Idaho, “In the event of an on-the-water emergency, you won’t be able to help your child if you’re struggling to stay afloat. Besides, wearing your own life jacket demonstrates that safety is important to you. And what’s important to you will seem important to your child.” 

Laws require children to wear a PFD whenever aboard a vessel (age limits vary), including any non-motorized paddle craft, like a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. (NRS and REI have online advice for PFD fitting.)

Additionally, children should wear PFDs whenever in or near water, including on a dock or riverbank. Experts also advise those age five and younger to wear a PFD whenever on a beach.

Cold Water Shock

Sudden immersion in cold water, whether from falling off a dock (or intentionally jumping off) or because of an overturned watercraft, causes a gasp reflex, which can allow water into the airway. Gasping underwater risks inhaling water.

The initial shock of cold water immersion causes “involuntary gasping, hyperventilation, vertigo, and panic,” according to the Washington State Parks’ webpage for boating safety, and can last 3-5 minutes.

This can lead to suffocation by drowning (when water enters lungs) or cause a laryngospasm, when the larynx involuntary closes and inhibits breathing, which can cause “dry drowning,” an event when no water enters the lungs. For laryngospasm self-rescue, exhale to relax larynx and open airway by arching/tilting back head.

Hyperventilation (over-breathing), whether from cold water shock or overexertion, lowers the body’s carbon dioxide levels and can lead to a loss of consciousness or force a person to take a breath while submerged.

Wearing a PFD prevents a person from staying underwater and allows for a quicker rescue. Which makes it the best way to swim safe at a lake (or other open-water area like a river or ocean), no matter the age or swim-skill level of a person.

Water Rescue At A Lake: Reach, Throw, Row, Go

Adrenaline and instinct can prompt a rescuer to go into the water. But would-be rescuers risk becoming drowning victims themselves unless they are prepared.

Experts advise following these 4 steps for a rescue, should you need to attempt one (applied here to a lake setting when a distressed swimmer isn’t wearing a PDF):         

1. Reach: Extend an arm, paddle, or other object (brace yourself to prevent being pulled into deep water).
2. Throw: If too far away to reach, throw a floatation item to the person in distress.
3. Row: For rescues from a farther distance, paddle/boat to the person and then perform steps 1-2.
4. Go: As a last resort, swim to the victim (while wearing a PFD yourself). It can be a good idea to take along a flotation device to help them stay afloat until a rescue boat arrives.

Water Safety Checklist For Lake Swimming

Here are 3 key ways to minimize drowning risks in any swim setting, from StopDrowningNow.org. These are vital whenever at a lake, whether it’s a public park, private residence, or remote setting.

1. Designate a “Water Watcher”: undistracted (and completely sober) supervising adult who remains within arm’s length of swimmers at all times.
2. Remove toys from the water’s edge when not in use.
3. Have an emergency action plan: SDN recommends teaching children to “Reach or throw, don’t go! Let someone know!” Caregivers should all know how to swim and provide CPR.

For further reading: “Water Safety for Lakes, Rivers, and Beaches” from Washington State Department of Health; “Open Water Safety Checklist” (lakes, rivers, oceans) from Safe Kids Worldwide.

Amy McCaffree is Out There Kids columnist and enjoys paddling and swimming with her family.

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Sawyer Insect Repellents: I avoid DEET, preferring a few bites to potentially poisoning myself but was a slow to give up citronella-based repellents and try something new. My bad, because picaridin repellent is highly affective for up to 14 hours against mosquitoes, ticks, and biting flies; is safe for use with kids and pets; and doesn’t have a strong smell like citronella. Another Sawyer scent-free, non-toxic product to keep unwanted insects away from your camp or backyard patio is its Permethrin Insect Repellent for clothing and gear. It won’t damage your gear or tent and a single use lasts for six weeks or six washings. Sawyer says you are more than 70 times less likely to get bitten by a tick if you are wearing permethrin-treated shoes and socks. Available at REI or at Sawyer.com. 

Owala Water Bottles: With a graveyard of old, unused water bottles littering my gear room, I’m reluctant to review new ones and often find myself drinking water out of an old juice bottle. Owala’s new FreeSip bottle changed my tune. Push the button and the cap flips open, keeping your grubby digits and germs off the drinking spout. The coolest thing about this bottle, though, is a 2-in-1 drinking spout that lets you tip the bottle for gulping water through a wider spout or sip more slowly from the built-in straw (great for driving in traffic when you don’t want a bottle in your face). Owala’s three models of bottles come in plenty of color options ranging from wild to tame. MSRP: $21.99-$29.99. OwalaLife.com  

Dr. Fedorenko Sun Stick: Given some evidence that chemicals in many conventional sunscreens could actually increase cancer risk, I prefer not to take any chances. The hippier the better. The Sun Stick is a natural, 30 SPF broad spectrum sunscreen that’s cruelty free, gluten free, non-GMO, fair trade certified, and it comes in a recyclable, non-plastic tube that looks like a giant tube of lip balm. Drfedorenko.com 

Dr. B Organics Hand Sanitizer: Having several bottles of sanitizer handy at camp is a good idea, especially when you’ll be using public facilities like picnic tables, restrooms, etc. I always buy organic or natural hand sanitizers because I don’t like my hands smelling like cheap perfume when I’m out in the woods, and those fragrances and other chemicals make my hands burn and itch. Dr. B’s hand sanitizer is super powerful on germs with 70% alcohol, but easy on your hands with a proprietary essential oils blend that sanitizes hands and surfaces and, so they say, supports healthy immune function. Drfedorenko.com 

Originally published as “5 Products for Healthier Camping This Summer” in the July-August 2020 issue.

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I’ve never come close to using what my son knows as “bad guys spray,” but the peace of mind of having some effective deterrent in case of an unlikely altercation with a deranged human being or aggressive canine is priceless. 

SABRE is the nation’s leading provider for personal safety products, and I started carrying a few of their products this spring. The 12-foot range Duathlete Pepper Gel with Adjustable Arm Band is great for walking or running, and the Cyclist Pepper Spray comes on an adjustable bike strap and provides a ten-foot range with 45 spray bursts. 

Sabrered.com 

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2. Carry out human waste and toilet paper —even on day hikes. “We strongly encourage people to bring bags… The reality is that even when you’re hiking for a day, you can’t always control when nature calls,” says Chris Bentley with OWNF, the land agency responsible for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.  Human-waste bags are available for purchase at your local gear shop or online. 

3. Stay on designated trails—especially on trails that receive a lot of traffic. “Wandering off trail inevitably leads to unofficial trails, and those cause erosion issues,” says Bentley. “Also, sensitive plants in alpine high step area don’t bounce back like they do on the rainy west side.” 

4. Plan for contingencies and hazards—even if you’re only out for a few hours. “I can’t tell you how many horror stories I’ve heard of people showing up with flip flops and a 20-ounce bottle of water, ready to do a 10-mile hike. That’s totally unwise,” says Bentley. He stresses the importance of hiking with the 10 essentials and being equipped to spend the night out if something goes wrong. 

5. Be honest about your skill level—even if you really, really want to do a specific hike. “Just because you’ve heard from a friend that there’s a beautiful view doesn’t mean that you are prepared to take that journey to get there,” warns Bentley. The most common rescue situations happen when people who aren’t prepared try a hike that’s beyond their ability and they get injured, tired, or sun stroke. “We do have instances of people losing their lives because they were not prepared.” 

Check out the Recreate Responsibly website for more information about outdoor recreation safety.

Read more about the hiking in the Central Cascades region in this story from our July-August 2020 issue, “Loving Leavenworth.”

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Jessica Stoller with the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce is optimistic that visitors will be mindful of social distancing practices while enjoying both the town and recreation. “We know that things are a little different from what we are all used to; we also know it takes a little more patience to adjust to these new protocols. Just know that we are working hard to be fully open and provide a great experience for all those visiting.” She explains that shops are open and restaurants can accommodate both dine-in and take-out experiences.   

“We are still the same beautiful, friendly town that will be smiling at you when you visit; we’ll just be smiling from behind a mask for now,” says Stroller. 

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Know Where You’re Going 

When it comes to travel, the Center for Disease Control advises staying close to home and avoiding crowded areas. As schedules permit, consider camping mid-week versus over a busy holiday weekend, for instance. If you decide to leave your local area, check for state and local guidelines that may require staying home for 14 days after traveling. Read health and safety guidelines of the area where you’ll be camping, as well as what’s posted on the campground’s website or social media pages. Review the rates of infection near where you’ll be camping and of your home area to make respectful decisions about whether this is the right time to adventure.  

Choose Companions Wisely 

The lowest risk scenario is camping with members of your immediate household. The CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of coronavirus. When joining with other household units, consider whether they’ve been social distancing and following the guidelines for your area, as well as whether anyone holds a high-risk job or will be coming into contact with those more vulnerable due to age or health issues. Note that physical distancing protocols are still in place across the country, and don’t travel with anyone who is sick or if you’ve had contact with someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days. When joining with those outside your household, avoid sharing food and drinks and remember that outdoor activities are lower risk than indoor ones. Aim to transport household units in separate vehicles, and plan to sleep separately versus piling into a shared tent or RV. 

Be Smart About Shared Spaces and Sanitation 

Check with your campground for details about cleaning procedures and requirements for shared facilities (bathrooms, outdoor kitchens, water spigots, etc.). Bring your own disinfectant wipes or sprays plus cloths or paper towels to sanitize shared hard surfaces, following instructions on disinfectant to ensure it sits long enough to be effective. Pack wet wipes and hand sanitizer to use when handwashing isn’t realistic. If well-maintained bathroom facilities are available, wash hands frequently. If they are open, consider visiting shared areas like beaches and picnic spots at off-peak hours to minimize potential exposure (and wash hands or use hand sanitizer afterward). Maintain 6-foot spacing between yourself and members of other households. For an added measure of safety, bring a mask to wear when close proximity to others is unavoidable. 

Stock Up in Advance 

Plan meals and snacks in advance, and shop for what you’ll need in your own neighborhood rather than out of town. 

Follow COVID-Era Trail Etiquette 

Best practices include keeping a 6-foot distance between those from other households. If that’s not realistic, plan to return at a lower-use time. When passing others, face away as you come into close proximity (although of course you can still give a friendly hello or wave!); those ascending typically have the right-of-way. Be sure to pick up your own trash—both to avoid the potential spread of germs, and because it’s just the right thing to do.

For more outdoor recreation safety tips, see this story from our June 2020 issue about #RecreateResponsibly guidelines.

Originally published as “Stay Healthy While Camping During COVID” in the July-August 2020 issue.

[Feature photo: Jumping into Lake Pend Oreille by Amy McCaffree.]

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Fortunately, I was able to move out of the road somewhat without ending up in the ditch. There was enough cell service to get a call off to our roadside assistance service for a tow and another call home to my wife for a rescue mission. I then dug into the emergency supplies I keep on hand in the winter and covered up the 4-year-old obliviously snoozing in his car seat with a blanket.

While I waited for the tow truck to arrive, I watched a mix of safe and reckless drivers pass by on the snow and ice covered road, and passed the time thinking about winter driving and being more prepared for being stranded.

Here are a few tips for safer winter driving to think about as we get ready for another season of skiing and snowboarding and driving sometimes sketchy roads.

Make Sure Your Vehicle Is Ready for Winter

Is your ski mobile ready for another season of winter driving? Get it checked out and tuned up by a professional, including a brake and heating/cooling system inspection. Consider vehicle repairs or an upgrade if the prognosis is questionable.

There are also quite a few things most of us can do ourselves: make sure your lights and turn signals are all clean and working, your windshield is chip and crack free, your windshield wipers are in good condition, the wiper fluid reservoir is full, and you have a functioning windshield scraper. And always fill up your gas tank before hitting the road.

Most importantly, have your tires checked out by a tire shop to make sure they are up for winter driving. Don’t forget to check the quality and pressure of your spare tire, and make sure you know how to deploy the spare and have the tools to remove it from your vehicle, as well as the jack to swap out tires.

Jumper cables and basic tools for dealing with dead batteries should also be in everyone’s winter driving kit. Finally, be sure to have the number for any AAA or other roadside assistance services you have with you in the vehicle.

Get Yourself Ready for Winter Driving

Assess the conditions before hitting the road and make sure you and your vehicle are up for what’s out there. On particularly snowy or icy days, assess your comfort limits and know when to stay home and off the roads.

Once you head out on the road, make sure you have everything you need for the drive close by to avoid distracting yourself while rummaging around for your water bottle or a snack when you should be paying attention to the road.

If you need to switch the tunes, answer a phone call, or make a text, pull over in a safe place. Distracted driving on winter roads is the cause of many accidents.

And finally, if you want to decrease your odds of an accident, slow down and don’t follow too close to other vehicles. If you’re holding up traffic or someone is tailgating you, find a safe place to pull over and let them by.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

When travelling winter mountain roads, it’s always a good idea to keep your vehicle well-stocked with basic safety and emergency gear and supplies. Things like road flares or reflective cones to warn oncoming drivers of an accident or vehicle stranded on the road are a great idea, as is a basic first-aid kit to deal with minor injuries.

A shovel and extra winter gloves for digging a vehicle out of a snowbank is highly recommended. And keep a blanket or two and extra warm clothes, food, and water in a pack or bin that stays in the vehicle to help make a wait for help much less miserable and potentially lifesaving.

Driving up to the mountains in the winter doesn’t need to be a nerve-wracking experience. Plan ahead, be prepared, slow down, and take it easy on the roads this winter!

Originally published as “Planning Ahead for Safe Winter Driving” in the October-November 2019 issue.

Read How To Prepare Your Vehicle for Winter Driving.

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Listening to the rolling hum of the creek while being swallowed up by the Sapphire Mountains delivers at least a couple moments of Zen. Fishing there in the fall, as the yellowing aspens and cottonwoods quake around you in a prophetic October breeze, is the closest I’ve ever been to feeling metaphysically transcendent. I craved that feeling, and so I drove four hours east with no plan and nothing more than my rod, reel, and a sleeping bag. 

Though I had fished the water a few times, as I took the exit just pass Clinton, I thought it best to pull into the Rock Creek Fisherman’s Mercantile for flies and a few last words of wisdom. It was a chilly and somewhat breezy morning, a day for sleeping in and watching the weather report. My car was the only one in the parking lot, and I was the only customer in the store.

“Can I help you?” The old woman from behind the counter asked. I stopped short of the flies, and stared with widening eyes at the bear spray canisters.

Holding up a bottle, I responded, “Um, I’m fishing alone. Will I need this stuff?”

“Well, you might run into a bear, but I’d be more afraid of running into a moose.”

“What should I do if I run into a moose?”

“If you’re fishing alone, talk louder to yourself.”

“Oh.” 

Armed with her advice, I decided the $40 bear spray would be best left for someone else.

Rock Creek has more than 30 miles of skinny road cutting through the Sapphires, and although I had planned to drive deep into the valley to fish a section I had never been to, I found myself pulling into the big dirt parking lot off Valley of the Moon Road just 2 miles past the Mercantile. The lower section of Rock Creek, and especially Valley of the Moon, hosts quite a few fishermen over the season. It’s easy to get to, and the trout see so many more offerings they become pickier about what they’ll bite. Normally I wouldn’t stop there, but I doubted I’d see a moose or bear in a place that was normally busy.

 Cutting down the well-worn path, I reached a plot of secluded bank. Cast after cast scuttled across the water. A quick shot under the false bank across from me; a gentle lay down upstream while mending line above a deep pool. A rainbow, a brown, even a brookie would make this day a success. I walked the banks and waded into the middle of the creek, hoping that a different angle might lead me to success. Hours went by.

Deciding it was a better tactic to change my fly than my location, and being too lazy to stumble across the smooth submerged rocks of the river to do so, I set to work snipping the streamer and trading it for a purple haze patterned fly. It was in this vulnerable position that the sound of sticks cracking came from the thicket upstream. 

I surveyed the dry creek bed that led into the tangle but saw nothing. Turning my attention back to securing a knot around the new bug, the slow breaking of brush was again audible. “Hello?” I said. No answer. Knowing the water was too deep to get to the other side of the creek, but that I didn’t want to come face to face with a moose or bear, I did what I had been instructed to do. I began singing loudly to myself.

“Now I’m free, free falllllliinnnn’… Now I’m freeee! Freee falllin’!”

Out of the bushes popped an older gentleman, perplexed by a man up to his waist with hands full of gear, singing Tom Petty in a cracking and nervous voice, staring right back at him. 

I nodded at him. “Thought you were a moose.”

He waved an obligatory hand toward me, but shook his head side to side as he ambled down the creek toward fish un-spooked by my karaoke. That day, I never did land a fish, but I did gain another tale in a storied place. Sometimes, that’s just as good—especially when you are unbothered by the black bears and moose.

Steve Hitchcock has been amassing stories for years in his time working for the SuperSonics, serving as a teacher, and going on a variety of outdoor boondoggles. He is the winner of this year’s Get Lit! and OTO Outdoor Writing Contest.

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In fact, I’ve previously grown four entire limbs in utero. Inasmuch, it would be relatively plausible to assume that I could grow myself a new hamstring. There’s always a surgical option as well, but seeing as I’m a nutritionist, it seems like I should at least try the you-are-what-you-eat methodology and rump roast myself back to health.

As many of us outdoors folk (or those of you who take the gym super serious) can attest, injuries happen. This year alone I managed to separate the majority of my hamstring from the pelvis, and, in an attempt to complete that tear, dislocated my opposite shoulder. Even my best efforts did not meet my insurance deductible. But the real reason I’m trying to avoid surgery is because those hospital gowns are never very flattering.

The thing about these soft tissue injuries is that they take a long time to heal. Like… entire ski seasons. The other thing about soft tissue injuries in the joint is, not letting it heal leads to chronic inflammation, which leads to arthritis, which leads to no more ski seasons ever. They also require a kind of passive healing process that makes most of us want to hibernate in a bottle of wine or an endless pint of ice cream (or both). We commonly stare with blinking eyes at our health care experts. Rest?

There are many psychologists out there exploring the mental and emotional impact of the injured athlete and some of the most challenging things they face is the aspect of having to wait for the body to do what the body does (heal) on its own clock. What if we could actively take part in that process and feel less like standers-by as we witnessed measurable improvement? What if we could grow ourselves some new limbs?

Helping our soft tissue recover requires rest and cellular activity. The body needs to push things into and out of the cells, needs to remove debris from the injured site, build scar tissue or repair damage. It requires not only a lot of energy, but also the ingredients to make this happen. Both the environment and the nutrients must be appropriate to an optimal healing process. And since we all get injured from time to time, here are my favorite nutritional rehabilitation tricks:

1. Stop drinking alcohol. Yeah, no one ever wants to hear that, especially this time of year. Alcohol is pro-inflammatory and an immune suppressant, two things we just don’t need when recovering from an injury. It also disrupts our blood sugars and our precious sleep—those key hours when our resting body can do most of its healing work. For how long? It depends on the injury, but this hamstring of mine will enjoy a year of sobriety. That’s how much I want to grow a new leg.

2. Watch the sugar. And remember that sugar comes in a lot of forms—empty carbohydrates like bread and white rice, crackers, and fruit cakes. First of all, if you can’t move as much, you really don’t need the extra calories. If you need to heal, you really can’t afford empty Everything that goes in should be nutrient-dense. Sugar is pro-inflammatory, too. This isn’t buzzword bingo; it literally increases the amount of cytokines in our bloodstream. These little messengers of our cells send signals that increase inflammation and suppress inflammation and are key to the immune and healing process.

3. Traditional bone broth. Every. Day. The hype is real. Bone broth is loaded with collagen, glucosamine, chondroitin, gelatin, and essential minerals (not to mention protein!). This is the very stuff your own tissues are made out of. We don’t have a lot of science on Grandma’s recipe, but there is a myriad of science supporting the benefits of consuming the specific compounds in bone broth and their essential role to our health. Get a slow cooker to save your dollars and make yourself some chicken soup. Then drink the stuff out of your thermos all afternoon. It’s a perfect replacement for that sugary mocha or spiked cider.

4. Be your own guinea pig. I’m not suggesting you drop a ridiculous amount of cash on snake oil, but do be open to trying methods and means you haven’t tried before. I’ve seen no less than twelve witchdoctors in an attempt to pamper this tattered limb and the hobby may well have replaced my running habit. I learned that acupuncture reliably reduces my pain and that I can actually sleep with needles in me. I learned that prolotherapy brings out the sailor swearing in me. And I learned that Tiger Balm should never be rubbed into a part of my body that is that close to other parts of my body.

And of course, eat your vegetables. Your body is doing some underground work. Supply it with the love and tenderness it needs, and it will not disappoint you. Then do like your doctor said, and rest. //

Ammi Midstokke tried to sever more than one limb from her body this year. She’s currently on lock down and swimming slow, careful pool laps. Last month, she wrote about the wonders of a good soup.

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