i take an emergency space blanket and a small first aid kit. I also
carry a light fleece change of clothing in a dry bag. i just leave that
in my hatch all the time.
that is what i carry on all my paddles.
if there is a chance (however remote) of being caught out after dark i
take two lights and some stuff to start a fire. cell phones work well
here and i take mine in a sealed sandwich bag.

Fiona Stirling wrote:
i take an emergency space blanket

Nothing wrong with these, but if you've a little extra space then a
Blizzard Pack is better: it's tougher and more importantly a lot warmer,
see http://www.blizzardprotectionsystems.com/

The pack size on the full bag version is about the size of a VHS cassette.

if there is a chance (however remote) of being caught out after dark i
take two lights and some stuff to start a fire. cell phones work well
here and i take mine in a sealed sandwich bag.

Very handy to call the coastguard for a weather update, irrespective of
emergencies.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch wrote:
Fiona Stirling wrote:
i take an emergency space blanket

Nothing wrong with these, but if you've a little extra space then a
Blizzard Pack is better: it's tougher and more importantly a lot warmer,
see http://www.blizzardprotectionsystems.com/

The pack size on the full bag version is about the size of a VHS cassette.

i just checked the site. i will be buying one late this autumn.

i have never seen them ( the blizzard pack ) on the market but they are
a tad pricey. 25 pounds is about $60.00 in canada . the little
emergency blankets cost $1.00 to $4.00 or so . cheap and about the same
space as a pack of cigarettes.
for this winter i will be trying to pick one up.
thank you pete.


if there is a chance (however remote) of being caught out after dark i
take two lights and some stuff to start a fire. cell phones work well
here and i take mine in a sealed sandwich bag.

Very handy to call the coastguard for a weather update, irrespective of
emergencies.

Pete.

i can beg a vhf or borrow one from work. i was off camping this summer
and was handed a sat phone. the area was all covered with cell and as
it turned out was much more populated than i expected.
the cell phone is a cheap and available thing here. now if they made a
water proof one...

thanks peter
fiona
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Fiona Stirling wrote:

i have never seen them ( the blizzard pack ) on the market but they are
a tad pricey.

They seem to have become the Weapon Of Choice for rescue teams and
mountain marathon weight weenies. They're certainly much more expensive
than a space blanket, but they double up as a moderately effective
sleeping bag too as there's genuine insulation value in there (hence the
mountain marathon crew rather liking them).

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Peter Clinch wrote:
Fiona Stirling wrote:

i have never seen them ( the blizzard pack ) on the market but they are
a tad pricey.

They seem to have become the Weapon Of Choice for rescue teams and
mountain marathon weight weenies. They're certainly much more expensive
than a space blanket, but they double up as a moderately effective
sleeping bag too as there's genuine insulation value in there (hence the
mountain marathon crew rather liking them).

i am on the hunt for one now. I have to check mountain equipment co op
later today or thursday when i start work a little later due to lab
availability.

for hypothermia on the east coast they use two space blankets , the
casualty is wrapped in one and stuck in a sleeping bag, The second
space blanket is wrapped around the outside of the sleeping bag. it
looks like your blizzard pack has that whole recipe covered. much less
space too.

ciao
and thank you.
fiona

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

Fiona Stirling wrote:

for hypothermia on the east coast they use two space blankets , the
casualty is wrapped in one and stuck in a sleeping bag, The second
space blanket is wrapped around the outside of the sleeping bag. it
looks like your blizzard pack has that whole recipe covered. much less
space too.

Only real caveat is that they're vacuum packed and once they come out of
their wee baggie they don't really go back in it. The manufacturer does
offer a repacking service but that would probably be a bit of a pain
from Canada, but at least they're not one shot wonders. My pals that
have used one in anger (and been impressed with it) just carry it around
in a bigger-than-VHS cassette pack now.

Being basically waterproof, so the insulation doesn't degrade when wet,
is a rather huge bonus for paddling.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/