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Exposure to the Cold: (Cold Shock & Hypothermia)
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A sudden plunge into cold water will cause you to automatically gasp and hyperventilate (breath rapidly). This will pass in about a minute. But, if you are not wearing a lifejacket at this time, you may panic, sink, breathe in water and drown! Wearing a lifejacket at all times is a good idea, but it's especially crucial when the water is cold.
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Cold Shock will incapacitate even the strongest swimmers within about ten minutes. Without a flotation device, you have only that amount of time to be rescued! Whereas a person wearing a flotation device can be immersed in ice water for about an hour, before hypothermia sets in.
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Ontario Boating League
8 - 63 Main St.
PO Box 5085
Penetanguishene ON
L9M 2G3
Phone: (705) 549-6500
Fax: (705) 549-6463
Emergency: (705) 528-9927
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Hypothermia;
In the early stages, a person's body begins to shiver. (the body is attempting to warm itself through muscle friction). The person's speech may be slurred. The person is conscious, but "withdrawn".
With continued exposure breathing will slow. The pulse will slow and weaken as well. A conscious person will lack co-ordination, unable to haul him or herself from the water. He or she will become confused, irrational, and sleepy at this intermediate stage. (Do not allow the person to sleep).
Finally, (after about an hour) there will be a loss of consciousness. The person may stop breathing altogether. There may be a weak, irregular, or absent pulse. Immediate actions must be taken to assist a person found to be suffering from hypothermia;
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Remove the person from the cold,
Provide dry, and if at all possible, warm shelter,
Warm the persons body gently by;
removing wet clothing & replacing it with dry clothing,
wrapping the persons body in blankets along with warm dry objects, (40 to 45º C), or a person, skin to skin.
placing dry coverings over the person,
covering the persons head and neck,
covering the person with an insulated barrier.
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Remember:
A person found to be suffering from hypothermia, (but is not shivering) must be provided with an external source of gentle heat. (Blankets alone won't work). Offer warm, sweet liquids (lots of calories), but do not give alcohol or hot stimulants. Get in close alongside the person, but do not rub or massage the surface of the person's body or extremities.
A person that has experienced severe hypothermia may claim to feel fine, even hot. Keep them warm anyway . . . your judgement is better than theirs! They can go into aftershock, so don't hesitate to call for help and follow the advise of medical personnel.
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