Arkansas Canoe Club Forums

As the water continues to heat up, the danger of Maegleria fowleri rears it ugly head.

Red River paddlers need to be especially vigilant about keeping your head out of the water.

http://www.4029tv.com/news/arkansas/okl ... olute=true

Thanks for the reminder...

Geez... better remember my nose plugs.

Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis (PAM) caused by Naegleria fowleri is VERY RARE (3-4 cases per year is the U.S. over the last 10 years), but very scary because it is invariably fatal. You are much more likely to be killed by lightning or snake bite; with about the same odds of being killed by a black bear. PAM is preventable by wearing effective nose clips/plugs. Given the frequency of people swimming in warm water, the organism must not be very efficient at entering the brain. There is no danger at Rockport - the water is too cool.

That said, I always wear nose clips and my children wear a dive mask while rolling in our lake.