1. Sea Sun Kayak Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
Cold Water Hypothermia
Bring a copy of this with you on all tours in a dry bag with
your safety kit. The EAP is also posted in the shed and in the o ce. Hyppthermia is your worst enemy, especially in extremely cold coastal
waters. It occurs when your body loses more heat than it can produce. If
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY not treated quickly, hypothermia can be fatal. Even in July a dunking can
leading to a total loss of manual dexterity within 5 minutes and death
If an emergency occurs you as a guide must use your judgement to determine within 20. Immersion in cold water isn’t the only cause of hypotherimia.
if you have the resources necessary or if you will require outside help. When Although less obvious, the combination of factors such a fatigue,
the severity of the crisis has been determined and rescue is immanent, dehydration, hunger, wind, rain and air temperature can also be dangerous.
contact one of the following resources and calmly relay all necessary
information. Reminder: An Incident Report Form must be filled out ASAP with Acute hypothermia: Uncontrollable shivering, loss of natural dexterity,
the Sea Sun Office if an emergency occurs. generalized numbness.
Manager on Duty...............Office: 850-7732, Cell: 471-1273, VHF: Channel 61 Chronic hypothermia: Shivering stops, difficulty speaking, confusion, loss
Holly‘s Cell.........................471-2732 of balance, sleepiness then unconsciousness.
Shining Waters...................826-3625
SMB Sailing Club................VHF: Channel 71 or 72 You should take hypthermia very seriously. Take steps to protect yourself
Emergency.........................Any phone: 911 by wearing appropriate clothing and doing all you can to help your body
Hospital.............................473-2700 fight the cold (rest, drink water, eat properly).
Coast Guard.......................Any cell: *16 ; VHF: Channel 16
Search & Rescue................1-800-565-1582; 427-8200 Treament: As soon as uncontrollable shivering and trembling occurs (acute
hypothermia), take immediate action and follow the steps below:
Sea Sun Kayak’s address: 148 Nautical Way, Tantallon, NS, B3Z 2P3
1. Protect the victim from the elements.
VHF DISTRESS CALL INSTRUCTIONS 2. Strip off wet clothing and replace with dry clothing. Cover head and neck
(wool cap, sweater).
If it is not life or death, replace MAYDAY with PANPAN below. If there is no 3. A warm, sweet drink (no alcohol or caffeine) will help the victim warm up
immediate danger but you need help, say “Halifax Coast Guard Radio this is from the inside out. A flask of warm water under the arms will have a
Sea Sun Kayak...”, etc. similiar effect.
4. With mild hypothermia, exercise will help the victim. If the hypothermia
MAYDAY. MAYDAY. MAYDAY. THIS IS ____ (your name). WE ARE A BOAT/ is severe, place the person in a sleeping bag.
KAYAK _____ (size), ____(colours). OUR POSITION IS ____(buoy # or GPS). 5. When body temperature returns to normal, give the victim something
THE PROBLEM IS _____(describe what happened). I REQUIRE _____ rich in carbohydrates and sugar to eat (dehydrated fruit, cereal bar, honey)
(describe the assistance you need). THERE ARE ___ (number) people on board. 6. Rest as long as necessary before setting off again.
THEY ARE {OK / INJURED /OVERBOARD}. OVER.
After the first 4 steps victims with chronic hypothermia must be evacuated
Release the button & listen for a reply. Repeat every 60 seconds. to a hospital as quickly as possible.

2. Hospital Information Sea Sun Kayak Emergency Preparedness
ROLES
THE QEII EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Charge Person: Sea Sun Kayak Manager on Duty
The Emergency Department at the Queen Elizabeth II Sciences Centre, aka
Call Person: Holly O’Leary
the QEII Hospital, is the only adult emergency department in pennisular
First Aid Co-ordinator: Guide on Duty
Halifax, replacing the former emergency departments at the Victoria
General and old Halifax Infirmary.
OPERATIONS
Main switchboard.....................473-2700
First Aid Supplies: All guides will carry a copy of the EAP with them on all
Patient Information .................473-3383
tours. There will be at least one First Aid Kit on each tour, which will be the
responsibility of the Lead Guide. A First Aid Kit is also located in the shed as
DIRECTIONS
well as the bottom drawer of the office filing cabinet. Sea Sun office staff are
responsible for ensuring that the Sea Sun First Aid kits are adequately stocked
Address: Summer Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 3A7
through regular inventory checks.
Website: www.cdha.nshealth.ca
Tour Support: A Sea Sun Staff member will be in the office to support all
The QEII Emergency department is located on the north side of the Halifax
rentals and half and full day tours generally. In a situation where the person
Infirmary and the access road is off Summer Street, adjacent to the CBC
guiding the tour is also in charge of the office, then the above listed Call
Building. From Sea Sun Kayak:
Person will be pre-notified and on-call in the event of an emergency;
however, it is intended that this situation would be the exception and not the
1. Head southeast on Nautical Way toward Peggy’s Cove Road (Route 333).
rule.
Go 500 m.
2. Turn left at Peggy’s Cove Road. Go 4.6 km.
Tour Communications: Guides and office staff must agree on the Trip Plan
3. Turn right at St. Margaret’s Bay Road. Go 350 m.
prior to departure. Guides must call into the office or the Call Person halfway
4. Turn left at Hammond Plains Road. Go 2.1 km.
through each day tour and at the begnning, middle and end of each day of an
5. Turn right onto the access ramp for Highway 103 heading towards
overnight tour or any time the Trip Plan must change. At least one cell phone
Halifax. Go 19.6 km.
is required on all tours. For any tours greater than 4 hours in length a VHF
6. Take Exit 1B to merge onto Highway 102 heading south towards Halifax/
radio is also required. All Sea Sun guides must hold a Restricted Operator’s
Dartmouth. Go 2.8 km.
Certificate (Marine).
7. Continue onto Bayers Road. Go 850 m.
8. Turn right at Connaught Ave. Go 1.4 km.
First Aid Certifications: All Sea Sun Guides must be certified in Wilderness
9. Turn left at Quinpool. Go 1.2 km.
Remote First Aid and all office staff must have a minimum of Standard First
10. Turn right at Robie Street. Go 1.1 km.
Aid and CPR, and preferably Wilderness Remote First Aid.
11. Turn left at University Avenue. Go 300 m.
12. Turn left at Summer Street. Go 53 m.
Rescue Boat: Shining Waters Marine will have a boat available for rescue
purposes. All office staff must possess their Pleasure Craft Operators Card.