Hypothermia - No Way to be Cool

The movies Titanic and The Perfect Storm alerted many people to the dangers of hypothermia. Yet some of the films’ scenes are seriously misleading: the Titanic’s young lovers only became hypothermic in the ocean, not while wading through icy water inside the ship, nor does George Clooney suffer hypothermia while steering his fishboat through gigantic 2° (Celsius or C) waves flooding the wheelhouse. Still, the films show how cold-water immersion can bring bodily functions to a standstill. Marianne Scott reminds us how dangerous the water can be at this time of year.

Hollywood entertainment fails to show the true dangers.

By Marianne Scott



The Effects of Cold Water Immersion



In cold water, it’s the skin and limbs that cool first. It takes about 10-15 minutes before the internal organs begin to cool. Intense shivering, which is the body’s attempt to offset heat loss, occurs next. As the body gets colder, the victim begins to mumble and fumble. Motor coordination decreases, speech slurs, skin grows pale and pupils may dilate. It’s difficult for the victim to assist during rescue.



When should you swim? Cold water will impair your swimming ability and waves or currents can slow you, so you should swim only if you can easily reach a shore, vessel or liferaft. Of course, if you’re without a PFD, you must tread water to stay afloat. You cool one-third faster while swimming or treading water than by keeping still. While keeping still, raise your knees to your chest to conserve heat. You must use every little thing to increase your survival time so you can be rescued. Recognize the risk. Use your brain, then add technology. You must have a plan to get out of the water, then you must communicate it to those who cruise with you.



After the Rescue



Man-over-board rescue methods merit a complete article of their own. Once you get your hypothermic victim out of the water, the person must be warmed. Search and Rescue vessels will have air-warming equipment to help heat the person’s air passages. If you’ve pulled someone back onboard, strip off wet clothes, place the person in a horizontal position, isolate the limbs, turn on your heater full-blast, surround him/her with warmed blankets, and apply your own body heat. If you have chemical heat packs, place them in the neck, under the arms against the chest, and in the groin area. Feed small amounts of warm liquid once the person is able to drink easily.



It’s impossible to estimate how many people lose their lives each year to hypothermia. Robert Douwens, the Sooke-based manufacturer of hypothermia-treatment field equipment called Res-Q-Air, explains no national data base on hypothermia deaths exists. ”It’s often unclear whether the person drowned instantly from cold shock, from cardiac overload, or from hypothermia resulting in drowning,” he said. “The scenarios vary and physicians and coroners may describe causes of death in different ways.” Douwens, like everyone in the search and rescue business, cautions boaters to be aware, to be prepared, and to wear the appropriate gear. “Some think that being cautious isn’t cool. But being cool may lead to fatal coldness.”



Avoiding Hypothermia



Stay aboard. The best thing, of course, is to avoid immersion. Wear a harness and tether to keep you in the boat, especially during bad weather. If you must abandon your vessel, wait until the last moment and enter the water slowly.



Use the head. We may laugh, but the Coast Guard says urinating overboard is a common reason for men to end up in the briny. It takes only an unexpected wave to lose one’s balance while unzipped.



Put on protective clothing. If you have time, put on watertight clothing, a survival suit, or a wet/dry suit. If you are lacking those, don layers of clothing and foul-weather gear. A hat, toque or diving helmet helps minimize heat loss through the head.



Wear a PFD. Brand says people fall overboard while moving around the deck, urinating, or standing up in open boats. “We can’t overemphasize the importance of wearing an approved PFD. It saves people during cold shock, allows them to float, remain in the ‘fetal position,’ and extend their time in the water.” If you must abandon ship, ensure your inflatable PFD is fully blown up before entering the water. You may lack the breathing control to do so once in the water.



Find other flotation. Any device keeping your torso and head out of the water will extend your survivability. A life ring, blow-up ring, inner tube, log, an overturned boat—anything to reduce heat loss will help.



Carry other gear. To call for help, carry a waterproof VHF radio. This is especially true if you’re singlehanding, fishing or rowing/kayaking/paddling alone. Whistles, flares, a personal strobe, fluorescent clothing or tape can make you more audible and visible (remember, a “one-foot chop” will hide your head).



Set goals. After falling overboard in British Columbia, Bob Lord endlessly tread water for 300 strokes, then rested. Each time, he’d set the goal again: 300 strokes. He’s convinced that his attitude and discipline helped save him.



Tow a line. Most people avoid overboard lines for fear of trapping them in the propeller. But 83-year-old Marshall Perrow had tied a 75', knotted dockline to the stern while single-handing. When he fell overboard, his boat kept sailing at four knots. He managed to grab the line and hold on until the boat ran aground.



Avoid booze. The liver produces less blood sugar with alcohol in the system, which can speed up hypothermia. Don’t drink and drive.