I know the weather has only cooled ever-so slightly, but it's only the beginning.  In all too short a time, the air and water temperatures will be considerably less than they are now. With colder temperatures comes the threat of hypothermia.  Hypothermia is the abnormal cooling of the central body and can be fatal.

Survival in cold water is dependent upon several factors.  Obviously, the colder the water, the shorter the odds of survival. Other factors affecting survival include your size, body fat, and activity in the water. Larger people tend to cool slower than small people do. Folks with high body fat cool slower than thin people, and children cool faster than adults.

Activities in cold water, such as swimming, will cause a person to cool up to 35% faster than a stationary person. Surprisingly, a person immersed in cold water utilizing the technique "drown-proofing" conserves energy, but tends to reduce survival time by up to 50%!

An average person, lightly dressed and WEARING A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD), may expect to survive up to 3 hours in 50 degrees F water by remaining still. Getting as far out of the water as possible and covering the head can increase this survival time. Getting on to a floating object can save your life.

First Aid for Hypothermia Victims

Should you encounter someone suffering from hypothermia,               you need to:

  • Make certain the victim has an open airway and is able                  to breathe. Then check for respiration ad pulse. If there                 is no pulse or respiration, CPR must be started               immediately.
  • Prevent further heat loss:

-- Gently move the victim to shelter and warmth as quickly                  as possible.
-- Remove all wet clothing.
-- Wrap the victim in blankets or a sleeping bag.


NEVER

  • Place an unconscious victim in a bath tub
  • Give a victim anything to drink -- especially alcohol
  • Rub the victim's skin

An excellent way to avoid hypothermia is to stay out of water          when the weather turns cold, and ALWAYS WEAR YOUR PFD!

    

 -- Submitted by Lt Brian Wheat, P /Former  Safety Officer