I live in the very SE corner of NC, and we’ve had a hot summer. I had family here a couple weekends ago. We were having temps around 95 with reported heat index well over 100. One morning, I sat up a large tent on the beach, as everyone wanted to spend a day on the beach. These folks are from South Dakota.
Even here, with ocean temperature around 82, the sea breeze feels quite nice in the afternoon. But I also told the story I’ve heard about how a frog, if you place it in a kettle in some cool water and put it on the stove, it will just sit there while the water heats up and boils. I explained people aren’t always that different. Many will sit hot under the tent until they feel miserable in a few hours, and then retreat to air conditioning. I insisted that none of them allow themself to sit there and feel like they’re enduring heat. Get up and get wet in the water, and you’ll be perfectly comfortable. Don’t allow yourself to feel warm. Don’t allow your swimtrunks to become dry. I filled a large cooler full of plenty of ice water, and every time someone came back from the water, I handed them bottles of water.
To skip to the end, everyone hung out there all day, and I didn’t hear any complaints.
I would suggest that I could do that paddle, and never feel hot. The trick is to manage people. I think it is very normal for people in unfamiliar activities to lose track of the basics. Also working against you is that getting wet might be initially uncomfortable, so it is, as a matter of human nature (and amphibious nature) quite possible that individuals could work themselves into heat exhaustion sitting on top of cool water. But it is also, as a matter of simple facts, a stupid thing to do. Everyone does stupid things at times. Create an awareness among everyone, and especially the leaders, to keep an eye on one another and on the kids. Don’t ask if they’re hot. Do a group activity to get everyone wet, and additional ones to keep everyone wet, whenever heat may be a concern. Don’t ask the kids if they’re thirsty. Hand them water and joyfully encourage them to drink up, and drink plenty.
I would suggest against “survival” water on something like this. Have plenty more than enough. Last weekend, I was through 3 bottles of water after 3 miles against the current on a hot day. Growing up on the farm, some used to say that when you approach having gone through 2 gallons of water, it’s time to start taking it easy.
Nice thin white cotton or linen are great for keeping cool. Get them wet, and when they start getting dry, get them wet again.
People should be far smarter and more adaptable than cancelling this trip for unbearable heat would suggest.
