From Larry Whiteley, host of the award-winning Outdoor World® Radio:
The Boat Owners Association of The United States (Boat U.S.) has a few tips:
The Boat Owners Association of The United States has reviewed its insurance claim files and reports the following six most common mistakes made when winterizing a boat:
1. Failure to drain the engine block: Balmy states, ironically, are the ones where boaters are most likely to have freeze-related damage to engine blocks, especially in boats stored ashore. Water retains heat longer than air, so boats left in the slip are less susceptible to sudden freezing.
2. Like an engine, the seawater strainer must be winterized or residual water could freeze and rupture the watertight seal. Sometimes you don't know it's damaged until spring launching and water begins to trickle in.
3. Leaving seacocks open over the winter in boats stored on water can cause problems. If a thru-hull cannot be closed the vessel must be stored ashore - the sole exception are cockpit drains. Heavy snow loads can also force your boat under, allowing water to enter through hulls normally well above the water line.
4. Engine cooling system petcocks clogged by rust or other debris can prevent water from fully draining. If it's plugged, try using a coat hanger to clear the blockage or use the engine's intake hose to flush anti-freeze through.
5. Boats with large open cockpits or low freeboard can easily be forced under water by snow. Store them ashore.
6. Using bimini covers as winter storage covers: A cover that protects the crew from the sun does a lousy job protecting the boat from freezing rain and snow. Unlike a winter cover, biminis tend to rip apart and age quickly in winter.
According to the South Dakota Department of Tourism, shore anglers can experience success just like boat anglers and, in many cases, better.
Game fish: Many saltwater, predator game fish cruise drop-offs when migrating to different areas and water temperatures. Texas coastal angler Larry Bozka suggests that salt anglers use what he calls “the 25 percent rule.” According to Bozka, a 25-drop, whether it is an offshore drop from 40 feet to 30 feet or an inshore drop from 24 to 18 inches, attracts predator fish. Though shallower, such drop-offs on the inshore flats are no less dramatic, and Bozka, a member of the Wrangler ProGear Outdoor Advisory Team, advises to fish these areas where cruising game fish are prevalent.
Bodie McDowell, the dean of outdoor writers and a member of the Wrangler ProGear Outdoor Advisory Team, has three bits of fishing wisdom:
1) Fish generally move into the current, so make sure your lure doesn’t surprise them from behind
2) Keep your rod tip in the water to prevent fish jumps (and hook tosses).
3) In colder waters during spring and fall, be sure to fish over dark bottom areas as they hold more heat than sandy areas.
Ron Schara of the Wrangler ProGear Outdoor Advisory Team advises, "To keep young kids interested in sport fishing, you should make fishing a thinking sport as well as a doing sport, and an intellectual pursuit as well as a physical pursuit. The host of the TV series, "Backroads with Ron and Raven," recommends "that you tell youngsters real fish stories. Tell them where different fish live and how they act, especially what they like to eat and how they find their food.""
From Jim Ryan, member of the RedHead® Pro Hunting Team: Here are some “minor details” that you need to remember before you head to the deer woods.
Avoid eating foods such as garlic and onions during season.
Store your hunting clothing in unscented bags along with items that contain the natural scent of your hunting area.
Don’t wear your hunting clothes in the cabin, campsite, or in the car on your way out. Change them when you arrive, thereby avoiding smoke, exhaust, or food odors.
Use a tightly sealed urine bottle for nature’s call.
Wear rubber-bottomed boots; they hold less human scent than leather-bottomed footwear.
If you can, stop scouting about a month before the season opener so your human scent doesn’t buildup in the area you will be hunting.
Be aware of your silhouette when on the stand. Make sure a tree or brush is at your back to break up your outline. Twigs and branches could deflect an arrow.
Double check your shooting lanes.
From Jerry Martin, co-host of Outdoor World Television: Try wearing a pair of amber shooting glasses when hunting on dull days. The glasses will aid in spotting movement, from cottontails to whitetails,
by increasing contrast and brightening the woods. Old socks are great for slipping
over the stocks of your guns. They will prevent scratches during storage, when in gun racks, or when traveling. Remember that farmland whitetails and mule deer quickly become accustomed to the smell of cow feces. Although not very appealing, step in some on your way to the stand and it will aid in masking your scent. Overuse of favorite deer stands is one of the most common mistakes deer hunters make but it is an easy trap to fall into. You worked hard locating and setting up a can’t miss ambush site.
Year-round, poison ivy can affect anyone - and the outcome will be oozing, itchy blisters. This plant contains the chemical 'urushiol,' and it is in an oil-form throughout this three-leafed plant. Almost everyone is allergic to it. For me, the allergy developed when I was older and it effects me with a passion.
When you're walking in the woods - or even in your garden - remember the phrase: Leaves of three, let it be! Learn how to recognize it and educate your family and friends. It grows as a woody vine and/or low shrub with compound leaves made up of three bright green pointed leaflets, but it changes to a beautiful red color each fall. The oil (urushiol) can be released even if you slightly brush against it or touch it. If you know you've touched it, as soon as possible, remove and wash all your clothig - for the oil can stay active for months. And as soon as possible, shower and flush your skin with large amounts of plain water. I made the mistake of soaping myself up but that only spread the oil. It only takes a few minutes for the oil to sink into your skin, so it's important to flush it off immediately.
I tried over-the-counter poison ivy products said to shield the skin from this oil - or to remove it after being in contact, but it didn't work and was quite expensive for something that didn't help at all.
If within 48 hours you break out in a rash, I've learned that merely putting wet compresses over the area(s) helps a lot. But, if the rash is spreading rapidly and causes unbelievable itching, get to your doctor for medicine to help. Do not scratch or the blisters will spread - but even though you look and feel terrible, it isn't contagious to anyone else.
The first rule of first aid, according to company representatives at web site www.adventuremedicalkits.com "is to be prepared. Carry a good first aid kit and follow these tips for prevention and treatment of common problems" ----
Stop Bugs! A bite or sting can make anyone miserable especially a small child. Cover up. Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and shoes and socks. Tuck cuffs into socks. Wear light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, especially blue.
Use insect repellent even if going outdoors for a short period. DEET-based products protect against both mosquitoes and ticks, and natural products, such as Natrapel®, are proven effective against mosquitoes. Mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are most active in the hours between dusk and dawn.
Tick patrol. Check each other for ticks at least every 4 hours. Avoid insect infested
areas, if possible.
Treatment. To remove a tick: Use tweezers to grasp it as close to the surface of the skin as possible; try not to damage the body. Apply steady upward traction to remove the tick. Do not twist.
Mosquito bites and bee stings: Treat mosquito bites and bee, wasp or hornet stings with After Bite®, After Bite® Kids or After Bite® Xtra to prevent swelling and relieve stinging.
To remove a honey bee’s stinger: Remove the stinger and venom sack as quickly as possible. This can be done with your fingers. Apply ice cold water and treat with After Bite® Extra to relieve pain and reduce swelling. In case of minor allergic
reactions - including hives (red raised skin welts) and itching without wheezing or breathing problems, adults can take 25 to 50 mg of antihistamines (diphenhydramine). For severe allergic reactions - including difficulty breathing or wheezing epinephrine needs to be administered as quickly as possible.
Feet First: Blisters can add a heavy load to your hiking or backpacking trip. Just as with bites and stings, the best defense is a good offense.
Prevention:• Be sure shoes or boots fit properly. Tight shoes cause pressure sores; loose shoes cause friction blisters.
• Break in new boots gradually before any long hikes.
• Wear a thin liner sock under a heavier sock. Friction will occur between the socks instead of between the boot and the foot.
• Keep feet dry.
• Before hiking, apply moleskin to areas where blisters commonly occur.
• Treat hot spots immediately. A hot spot is an area where skin is red and irritated but has not yet blistered.
Treatment: £U For hot spots: Cut an oval-shaped hole slightly larger than the hot spot in a rectangular piece of moleskin. Center the hole over the hot spot and secure with tape or knit dressing. Be sure no sticky surfaces touch irritated skin. For small, intact blisters: Do not puncture or drain. Apply a piece of moleskin or molefoam
with a doughnut style hole cut out slightly largerthan the blister over the site. Secure with tape.
Unkind Cuts: Aside from being painful, cuts and scrapes can become infected or leave scars. While there’s no real prevention other than general safety and common sense, proper treatment can ease the pain and speed the healing process.
Here are the three steps for treating most minor cuts and scrapes:
1. Clean. Water used with pressure is safest and most effective. Use a syringe with an 18 or 19 gauge plastic catheter tip attached or fill a plastic baggie full of water, poke a pin hole in the bottom corner and squeeze the bag to create a stream of water. Squirt the wound to fl ush out germs and debris without harming tissue.
2. Protect. Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment.
3. Dress. Place a nonadherent dressing over the wound and place an absorbent gauze dressing over that. Hold both in place with a conforming roller bandage.
Important tips from the Skin Cancer Foundation: Recent research shows that when detected early, the survival rate for patients with melanoma is nearly 99%. However, the research also shows that survival rates may be as low as 15 percent if the disease is not detected in its early stages. Regular skin checks are a simple and easy way to catch skin cancer before it is too late.
"After the summer, when people might have experienced sun damage, is a good time to visit a dermatologist to get a skin exam," says Perry Robins, MD, President of The Skin Cancer Foundation. "Most people don't realize that an annual visit to a dermatologist should be a part of their regular health routine - just like getting a yearly physical."
In addition to an annual professional total-body skin examination, The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends monthly skin self-exams. Studies have shown that the majority of melanomas are spotted by patients. In fact, they may detect melanoma more than twice as often as physicians do. Research has shown that skin self-exams can lead to 42 percent fewer deaths. Combined with a yearly skin exam by a doctor, a self-exam is the best way to detect the early warning signs of skin cancer. The key is to look for any new growths or skin changes. Here's how:
Gather a bright light; a full-length mirror; a hand mirror; two chairs or stools and a blow-dryer.
1. Examine head and face, using one or both mirrors. Use a blow-dryer to inspect scalp.
2. Check hands, front and back, including nails. In a full-length mirror examine elbows, arms and underarms.
3. Focus on neck, chest, and torso. Women: check under breasts.
4. With back to mirror, use a hand mirror to inspect back of neck, shoulders, upper arms, back, buttocks, legs.
5. Sitting down on one chair with leg propped up on the other, check legs and feet, including soles, heels, and nails. Use hand mirror to examine genitals.
The warning signs:
A skin growth that increases in size and appears pearly, translucent, tan, brown, black or multi-colored
A mole, birthmark, beauty mark or any brown spot that:
changes color
increases in size or thickness
changes in texture
is irregular in outline
is bigger than 6 mm (1/4 inch), the size of pencil eraser
appears after age 21
A spot or sore that continues to itch, hurt, crust, scab, erode or bleed
An open sore that does not heal within three week
Remember to be mindful of time spent in the sun, make sure to use an SPF 15 sunscreen or higher every day and follow The Skin Cancer Foundation's other prevention tips at www.skincancer.org or call 1-800-SKIN-490.
The first organization in the U.S. that committed itself to educating the public and medical professionals about sun safety, The Skin Cancer Foundation is still the only global organization solely devoted to the prevention, detection and treatment of skin cancer. The mission of the Foundation is to decrease the incidence of skin cancer through public and professional education and research.
Things To Take With you ---
On the day you leave . . . .
Swimmer's ear can affect you even if you don't go into the water! When it's hot and humid, skin infections can often develop within the ear canal, and most problems are caused by too much wax. If yuo have a wax buildup, moisture from swimming, or even from the air, can get into the skin tissue and cause infection. To prevent this from happening, never try to clean your ears with a sharp instrument or clean them with cotton swabs. This removes too much wax. Symptoms of a problem include blockage in the ear, a full feeling, pain, or discharge. If this is happening, see your physician immediately. It's also a good idea to have your doctor check your ears once in a while so if there's a wax buildup, he/she can remove it. Always wear ear plugs when swimming or, if water should get in to the canal, drug stores have numerous over-the-counter ear drop products that will cure the problem.
Never overload your boat by exceeding its weight capacity.
Move around in the boat carefully. This is a chief cause of boating accidents. Always move slowly; keep your center of gravity low; and grip something solid as you move.
Always wear your personal protection device (PFD) even if you are an excellent swimmer. Each passenger in your boat should also wear one.
Develop safe boating practices by taking a U.S. Coast Guard course.
Keep clear of big ships and watch for their lights. Look at the ship's sidelights, not at the masthead. If one sidelight is seen, you aren't in the path of the ship, and it will also guide you as to which way to move to get clear. If both sidelights are in view, it's dangerous -- for you are moving directly towards the ship's path!
Learn whistle signals. One signal used is four or more short blasts which means danger. When hearing this signal, immeiately check to see if it's for you. If so, move out of the way quickly.
Use a safe place to anchor. Never tie onto a buoy which is unsafe and illegal.
Make certain you are visible. Keep your navigation lights on at night and unobsecured by sails or flags.
Watch for other boats, especially at night and during foggy weather.
NRS has been outfitting paddlesports enthusiasts with the best in boats, boating apparel and accessories for the past 35 years. Thanks to information from NRS e-News, the following are positive ways to ensure kids' safety while boating. For more information, check the NRS web site at www.nrsweb.com:
Boating with kids helps instill a love of nature and teaches valuable outdoor skills. It’s one of life’s greatest joys. With that pleasure comes an awesome responsibility – keeping them safe. Kids are curious, spontaneous and carefree. They don’t give much thought to their safety so it’s up to you to do that for them. They can learn safety practices but that takes time and it takes vigilance on your part to make sure they’re doing the right things.
This is the most important safety gear for any boater, but especially for kids. PFDs designed for young people are sized by weight range instead of the chest measurements used in adult models. Kid’s growing bodies are so variable – one 60-pounder may be a tall, skinny beanpole, while another may be short and stocky. Chose a PFD that fits their body well. It’s unsafe to choose one with a sloppy fit that they’ll “grow into." They’ll probably need several different sizes over the years. Don’t skimp on this; it’s a wise investment in their safety.
Snug all the adjustment points, starting with the lowest one and working up. Then check for the proper fit by picking the child up by the shoulders of the jacket. If the fit is right, the child’s chin and ears won’t slip through. Some jackets come with leg straps that help prevent ride-up. We’ve put together the Kids PFD Reference Guide to help in finding the best jacket for your youngster. When you’ve gotten a good fitting life jacket, make sure they wear it! Insist they have it on any time they’re on the water or playing around the shore. You can’t watch them every minute and it only takes that long for them to get into trouble.
Explain to your child what to do in case of accident or upset while on the water. Going over possible scenarios will build their confidence and help them react correctly to an emergency. When planning to take your children on a stretch of water, think of the worst things that could happen. Can you and your children handle those worst-case emergencies? If the answer is no, choose different water to boat. Exposing them to situations they can’t handle is unsafe and can lead to bad experiences that will set back their outdoor education.
Never tie a child into a boat; in the event of an upset they’ll be trapped. In a raft have them sit next to an adult who can hold onto them or help them hold on through any rapids. If they’re in their own kayak or inflatable kayak, have them stay close to other experienced boaters and upstream of a rescue boat in moving river waters. Make sure they wear a helmet.
A great training tool for river boaters is to find a Class I stretch of water without any dangers below. Make a “game” out of having them float through the gentle waves on their backs, feet downstream. Practice tossing them the throw rope and pulling them to shore. They’ll have a blast while you’re teaching them valuable skills.
Companies Fight "Seasonal Absence Syndrome" with Cold-Weather Wellness Tips -- Corporate wellness programs are urging employees to stay healthy when the weather turns cold; employers hope to stop cold and flu germs at the door
Facts:
· Cold-weather months typically bring a 46 percent spike in illness-related
employee absences, according to the DOL.
· Influenza is actually covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
under some circumstances, which can result in longer absences.
· Working parents have it tough: Children are absent a total of 22 million school days each year due to the common cold (about 3 days each), according to the CDC. And 17 percent of employees say they save their sick days for their children, according to ComPsych.
Corporate wellness programs are offering employees simple reminders for maintaining health as cold weather ˆ and "cold season" ˆ sets in:
· Hit the gym, even when the mercury hits zero. It's much harder to get out of a warm bed and get to the gym when it's dark and cold out. Resist the tendency to hibernate, make an "appointment" with yourself to exercise and consider using a light box to help you wake up, if a morning work out is your preference.
· Catch some rays. The sun can improve your mood by increasing serotonin levels which also increases energy. Again, resist the temptation to hibernate, put on a coat and take a walk during your lunch break. And spend time outdoors on weekends.
· Hydrate your body and your office. Drink plenty of water and use a humidifier if necessary. Heating systems at home and at work can dry out the air and your sinuses making you more susceptible to germs.
· Wash your hands. Think of all the doorknobs and desktops you touch in a day. It's a no brainer but worth repeating that frequent hand washing can lessen the likelihood of getting sick.
· Wash your **children's** hands. Parents especially should wash hands frequently, and consider keeping sanitizing wipes in the car and around the house to slow down the spread of cold germs if your child becomes sick.
· Get some shut-eye. Sleep deprivation is one of the easiest ways to weaken one's immune system. By getting enough sleep, you can greatly reduce your chances of getting sick.
· Manage your stress. Take a step back and think about what stresses you. What can you modify, improve or avoid, especially when it comes to holidaystressors? Can you change the way you respond to stress? Journaling, cutting back on commitments, taking time to relax and exercising your sense of humor are ways to cope.
· Stock up on fruits and veggies. Nutritious foods help fortify your immune system. Taking multi-vitamins and minerals, not just vitamin C, also assist your natural germ-fighting powers.
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