Page 16 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 125

16 Issue #125 June 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

Cornwall Fire Services

with Deputy Chief Leighton Woods

As you read this and given that it’s now June, boaters from all across the city are now enjoying our wonderful St. Lawrence River.

Whether you’re in your fishing boat, on a jet ski, or on your yacht, there are several ways that you can stay safe while on the water.
First and foremost, you should always be prepared BEFORE you head to the river. By that, I mean that you should have taken an accredited

Canadian boating course, have inspected your equipment, buckled up your life jacket or flotation device, checked the forecast and water
conditions, and created a rescue plan.
Before leaving, you should also always notify at least one person about where you are going and when you expect to be back.

Contrary to what you might think, a life jacket isn’t just about keeping you afloat if you fall overboard — it also helps with cold-water shock.

Research shows that unexpected immersion in cold water is a serious risk to life if a boater isn’t wearing a flotation device.
That’s true even if you’re close to the shore, are a great swimmer, or have loads of boating experience.
Cold-water shock is the first stage in the sudden and unexpected immersion in water which temperature is 15 ̊C or lower and occurs during the first minute of exposure.

Cold-water shock can lead to muscle spasms, rapid breathing of hyperventilation, increase of the pulse and blood pressure, and most dangerous of all, involuntary
gasping. This can lead to drowning.
What’s more, the shock can cause cardiac arrest, even for a healthy person.
It’s important to wear a life jacket BEFORE you fall into the water. Trying to grab one while in the water, let alone putting one on, will be very hard because of the
changes your body will be experiencing. People in cold-water shock should try not to panic and try to control their breathing.
Another safety tip that I can’t stress enough is that you should never — and I mean never — drink alcohol or take drugs when boating. Doing so is illegal and creates
a danger to everyone else on the water.
Mixing alcohol and drugs with boating is far more dangerous than you may realize. Fatigue, sun, wind, and the motion of the boat may dull your senses. Alcohol and
drugs intensify these effects, leaving you with reduced fine motor skills (for example, hand-eye coordination) and impaired judgement.

Boating under the influence is also punishable under the Criminal Code of Canada. That’s right, having a few beers or a joint while on the water can lead to fines, seizure

of your boat for a period of time, or even some prison time.

You can find more information on how to practice safe boating by reading Transport Canada’s Boat Safety Guide: https://tc.canada.ca/en/marine-transportation/marine-
safety.

Cornwall SDG Paramedic Services

By Wayne Markell

June is Canadian Men’s Health month

Given that June is Canadian Men’s Health month, I thought that I would dedicate this column to the topic of… you guessed it,
men’s health.
When speaking of the issue, you certainly must highlight prostate cancer . One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
When speaking of the issue, you certainly must highlight prostate cancer. One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
in his lifetime. Did you know that prostate cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer in Canada?in his lifetime. Did you know that prostate cancer is the 4th most common type of cancer in Canada?
Not only that, but prostate cancer is also the most predominant type of cancer among men. It’s important to know that 99% of prostate
Not only that, but prostate cancer is also the most predominant type of cancer among men. It’s important to know that 99% of prostate
cancer cases occur in men that are over the age of 50. So, what can you do to protect yourself?
cancer cases occur in men that are over the age of 50. So, what can you do to protect yourself?
You should always be proactive — that means getting regular screening from your physician. 74% of prostate cancers are diagnosed early at stage 1 and

stage 2. There’s even better news — the probability of surviving prostate cancer at least five years after diagnosis is about 93% in Canada.

In general, a prostate exam includes a PSA blood test — which measures the level of prostate-specific antigen in your blood — and a rectal exam.

During the rectal exam portion, your healthcare provider carefully inserts their gloved finger into your rectum. This allows them to feel the edges and
surface of your prostate gland to detect any potential abnormalities.
Another cancer that affects men frequently is colorectal cancer. It’s estimated that 26,300 Canadians get diagnosed yearly with this type of cancer —
14,600 of them being men.
What’s more, 1 in 14 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
There is no single cause of colorectal cancer. Some factors that increase the risk of developing the disease includes being over the age of 50, having a
family history of colorectal cancer, or having familial adenomatous polyposis or Lynch syndrome.
A diet high in red or processed meat and low in fruits and vegetables, as well as obesity, physical inactivity, heavy alcohol consumption, smoking, and

inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) are also factors.
As with prostate cancer, early detection is key. This can be done through a fecal occult blood test. Continued on page 17