So this weekend was the Head of the Charles Regatta here in Boston. I let my dad talk me into volunteering this year to help out with communications. He talked me into the Boston Marathon and I really enjoyed that so this seemed like a good idea.
SATURDAY
Up at 5 am. I knew it was going to be really cold, so I bundled up. Thermals, extra socks, multiple layers...the usual. I got there expecting the usual kick-ass jacket they give out...but no...just a shitty wind-shell. So i got to the finish line medical area (my saturday assignment) and it turned out that there were 4 Hams and 1 first aid person...and they weren't even an EMT. Thank god we didnt really have much work that day. It was sunny and somewhat warm, so the worst we had were cuts, bruises, and blisters on the rowers hands. Most of my day was spent walking around the finish line area with a med bag handing out band aids and ice packs to the teams and scamming free stuff from the vendors.
SUNDAY
TOTALLY different story. Woke up at 4, cause my assignment for the day was aboard one of the Rescue boats along the course. Got to the MIT boathouse at 5:45...and sat there waiting for everyone else to show up, and get the gear in the boats. It was already really cold, and the forcast showed rain and high winds later in the day, so i brought my winter clothing out. Ski pants, heavy thermals, Gore-tex lined boots. Got my assignment as Rescue 7 (a nice little boston whaler), about halfway along the course near theWeld Boathouse. My crew and I headed down and spent most of the day running up and down the side of the course. Not too bad...until the boat started to fill with water. Mind you it was raining most of the day, but the water was coming in through the rear of the boat. So every 15 minutes or so one of us had to bail water out the side. Then it suddenly got REALLY cold and started to SNOW. Thats right...snow...in early october. By that time, all of us in the boat were half frozen. We didn't end up doing much, except for one boat in the Collegiate Women's Eights that lost its steering and had to be helped to a dock.
After the last race of the day we had to sit and wait on the water till all the teams were docked/on their trailers, then head back up to MIT to dock for the day. By the time we got back, I couldn't feel my fingers, or feet, the docks had iced over, my gear was soaked, and I was shivering and my thoughts were slightly delayed. EMS had a crew there to evaluate all of us and I spent about 20 minutes in a warming blanket cause I was hypothermic. The rest of my crew were just as bad.
By the time I got home all I wanted to do was get a hot shower, and sleep...so i did...until the hot water ran out...then I passed out at about 8:30...and slept till 11 today. And I still feel cold. And after all that, I STILL wish I could volunteer next year to help out...as long as I'm not on a boat.
SATURDAY
Up at 5 am. I knew it was going to be really cold, so I bundled up. Thermals, extra socks, multiple layers...the usual. I got there expecting the usual kick-ass jacket they give out...but no...just a shitty wind-shell. So i got to the finish line medical area (my saturday assignment) and it turned out that there were 4 Hams and 1 first aid person...and they weren't even an EMT. Thank god we didnt really have much work that day. It was sunny and somewhat warm, so the worst we had were cuts, bruises, and blisters on the rowers hands. Most of my day was spent walking around the finish line area with a med bag handing out band aids and ice packs to the teams and scamming free stuff from the vendors.
SUNDAY
TOTALLY different story. Woke up at 4, cause my assignment for the day was aboard one of the Rescue boats along the course. Got to the MIT boathouse at 5:45...and sat there waiting for everyone else to show up, and get the gear in the boats. It was already really cold, and the forcast showed rain and high winds later in the day, so i brought my winter clothing out. Ski pants, heavy thermals, Gore-tex lined boots. Got my assignment as Rescue 7 (a nice little boston whaler), about halfway along the course near theWeld Boathouse. My crew and I headed down and spent most of the day running up and down the side of the course. Not too bad...until the boat started to fill with water. Mind you it was raining most of the day, but the water was coming in through the rear of the boat. So every 15 minutes or so one of us had to bail water out the side. Then it suddenly got REALLY cold and started to SNOW. Thats right...snow...in early october. By that time, all of us in the boat were half frozen. We didn't end up doing much, except for one boat in the Collegiate Women's Eights that lost its steering and had to be helped to a dock.
After the last race of the day we had to sit and wait on the water till all the teams were docked/on their trailers, then head back up to MIT to dock for the day. By the time we got back, I couldn't feel my fingers, or feet, the docks had iced over, my gear was soaked, and I was shivering and my thoughts were slightly delayed. EMS had a crew there to evaluate all of us and I spent about 20 minutes in a warming blanket cause I was hypothermic. The rest of my crew were just as bad.
By the time I got home all I wanted to do was get a hot shower, and sleep...so i did...until the hot water ran out...then I passed out at about 8:30...and slept till 11 today. And I still feel cold. And after all that, I STILL wish I could volunteer next year to help out...as long as I'm not on a boat.