Andrew Nathanson, MD (ed.) doing the Spread Eagle at La Barra, Nicaragua
In this issue we explore the extremes of surfing medicine. From extremely hot, “Sun protection for surfers” to extremely cold, “Cold water surfing and hypothermia”. From extremely old, “Granny and Doc” to extremely new, “Triple Crown Injury Report”. From extremely sharp, “Sea Urchin Injuries”……well you get the picture.
In the “Sun protection” article, SMA newbie, dermatology PA Brian McArthur gives us practical, surf–centric advice on how to protect ourselves from the sun’s damaging effects. Groms tend to worship the sun’s rays, and (after a few sessions under the scalpel) adults learn to fear them, but by then, it is often too late. The lucky among us only suffer from sunburn and pre-mature ageing, the unlucky from basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma. The very unlucky get malignant melanoma, whose incidence has tripled over the last 30 years and is likely the leading cause of surfing-related death. Read this one closely and heed its advice.
From the chilly waters of Cape Cod, Otis Warren, a man whose ancestors survived the first Pilgrim winter, shares his personal and professional expertise on cold-water surfing and the diagnosis and treatment of hypothermia. Increasingly crowded surf in the temperate waters of the mid-latitudes has forced those seeking the solitude and adventure of unridden surf into ever-colder waters. While improved wetsuit technology has allowed places like Iceland to become viable surf destinations, caution must be taken to avoid the perils of hypothermia, and Dr. Warren tells us how it’s done.
Lastly, with permission from our generous friends at the Surfer’s Journal, we take a look back at surfing doctors (in this case, dentists) of yore. Two articles chronicle the exploits of surf-photo pioneers Don James and “Doc” Ball. You need only to look at Don’s late 50’s helmet cam, and Doc’s 1935 wooden water housing to see what visionary innovators these guys were. Their photos tell the rest of the story.
The inspiration behind what we hope is a recurrent theme of surf-docs through the ages comes from outgoing SMA chief Kahuna, Bill Jones. Bill nimbly led the pack from 2011-’15, paddling his SUP through side-chop and backwash to keep the organization on its feet. A 25 year SMA veteran, he pioneered the Galapagos conference, helped organize innumerable clinics and conferences in Tavarua, Nicaragua, and other far-flung locales, and helped resuscitate this very journal, all the while keeping the organization financially solvent. Warm water and tasty waves to you, Bill, and we all look forward to seeing you at your home break in Monterey, CA during the 2016 Pacific Rim Medical Conference.
With Much Aloha,
Andrew Nathanson, MD