Safety

Rivers are fun but there can be dangers - learn to recognise them and always take the following precautions to minimise risks and prevent accidents:

• Wear a buoyancy aid at all times.

• Wear a helmet if you are likely to canoe in white / rough water.

All rivers receive some sort of dirty water; please make sure you:

• Cover cuts and scratches with a waterproof dressing as soon as possible.

• Avoid capsizing in still or slow-flowing water and try not to swallow river water.

• Always wear shoes or other footwear.

• Wash your hands before eating, drinking or smoking.

Be aware of the symptoms relating to waterborne illnesses and, if you do feel ill, tell your doctor that you have been canoeing.

Leptospirosis (Weil's Disease)

Leptospirosis is an animal infection. After recovery the animal excretes the organisms in the urine. The bacteria survive for days or even weeks in moist conditions, but only for a few hours in salt water. The infection is caught by direct contact with the urine or polluted environment. Bacteria enter through skin abrasions or via eyes, nose or mouth.

The Illness

The usual incubation is 2 to 12 days. Usually a flu-like illness occurs which resolves in 2 - 3 weeks. There may be fever, severe headache, pains in the back and calf and prostration. A few cases develop jaundice, when the condition is known as Weils disease.

Although death may occur in 15% of the jaundiced patients, death without jaundice is virtually unknown. Antbiotics during the first few days help in limiting infection. Many cases recover without specific treatment.

What to do

If you think you may have the infection, go to your doctor and tell him / her that there may be a risk of leptospirosis. The diagnosis is by clinical suspicion. Blood tests can rarely confirm the illness in time to affect treatment. They may subsequently confirm it. The micro-biologist at the local hospital is the best source of advice.

Prevention

1. Cover all cuts and abrasions with waterproof plasters.

2. Always wear footwear to avoid cutting feet.

3. Avoid capsize drill or rolling practice in suspect waters.

4. Where possible, shower soon after canoeing.

5. If in doubt contact your doctor early.

The level of risk

Each year, on average, 9 watersports people contract Leptospirosis, among which 3, on average, are canoeists. Leptospirosis is very rare, and its deterioration into Weil's Disease even more rare. Weil's Disease is however a very serious illness, and must be swiftly diagnosed and treated.

You can reduce your risk