The following messages were from a discussion in the can.rec.boating newsgroup (quoted text deleted for brevity). The information posted is not represented as the absolute truth on this subject. See Preventing Drowning in cold water on our boating statistics page.
Subject: Close Call with Hypothermia
Date: 24 to 25 Feb 2003
From: Lloyd Sumpter <lsumpter@shaw.ca>
My Lady decided she didn't like trolling, so I let her off with Near Cove
at Round Island to set a crabtrap and try bottom-fishing. Trouble is, although
the weather forecast said gale-force outflows, there was a 10-knot inflow,
which blew right into the bay she was in. By the time I picked her up, there
was a 1-2ft chop in the bay, and she was tired of rowing and was tied to one
of the mooring bouys. I hooked her up and towed her out to clear water, then
she tried to get back into Far Cove (like she's done many times before!).
Halfway out, the dinghy moved away ...st-re--ch...sploosh! Into the freezing
water, with a VERY heavy wool coat. She kept hold of the dinghy, and got out
in about 30 seconds (didn't even get her shoulders wet!) But the coat was
soaked.
Fortunately, I have spare pants, socks, sweaters, jackets, etc. in FarCove,
so off came all the wet stuff. She insisted she was not even cold,so I didn't
start the heater. Unfortunately, 3 hrs later, she was cold,and by the time
I started the heater, she was quite cold (not dangerouslyso, but uncomfortable).
Once back at the dock (by then the sun had set andit was about 1 deg. outside,
but cabin was toasty!), she made a bee-linefor the van, and by the time I
got there, it was a sauna. She was stillcold all evening, but fine now.
Lessons:
1. you can ALWAYS fall overboard!
2. ALWAYS have spare clothing and blankets aboard
3. Start the heater BEFORE you get cold
4. Hypothermia is sneaky - be careful! Don't believe the victim.
Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36
"Near Cove" Walker Bay 8
From: WayneB <WayneBatRecDotBoats@hotmail.com >
Maintaining contact with the boat is important of course but incold water
people quickly lose muscle control and the abilityto hold on. Once that happens,
only a PFD and quick rescuecan save you.
From: Capt. Mooron <overproof@mooron.ca>
> Why anyone chooses to go out for recreational purposes
in freezing waters is beyond me.
With that mentality nobody in Yellowknife would go sailing ... let alone live
aboard for 10 years. Cold is a matter of perspective. Respect your element.
I have swam in water that was 5c. ... The Yellowknife Coastguard Aux. considers
even full Mustang Floater Suits as only good enough to keep the bodies afloat
for retrieval. If you hit your head while falling overboard... water temperature
is not the primary cause of death. It may even assist in revival due to Mammalian
Cold Water Reflex. PFD in cold water.... Ha Ha Ha Ha! Good for about one minute.
From: Lloyd Sumpter <lsumpter@shaw.ca>
I appreciate your attitude, and thank you. I agree that a floater-coatwould
have been better. A PFD would be VERY hard to wear over the coat. If she had
been in the water any lengh of time, or there was enough room (she was in
the water between the stern and the dinghy - there wasn't room to fit the
lifering!), I would have thrown her a lifejacket AND the lifering.
MY "attempt at education" is to quell the knee-jerk, solve-everything answer
of the PFD. It is NOT the Universal Guaranteed-to-save-you panacea that some
people seem to think it is. Especially when single-handing, all a PFD does
is make your death-struggle last a while longer. A harness is WAY more important.
My other attempt at education was to warn others of the errors I did make
(like underestimating hypothermia) and pointing out the "safety equipment"
I DID have (change of clothes, blankets, hot soup, heater...) and how important
they can be. I know everyone as PFDs aboard - do they have clothes, blankets,
etc.?
And in this case, maintaining contact with the boat was the primary issue
(there was no way she could have "hit her head" here - we're talking a slow
descent into the water, finally making the choice of going in rather than
trying to hang between the boat and dinghy.)
As for the "made an error" - yes, several. The main one being I didn't start
the heater right away. Another was that I didn't stop the boat completely
while she was climbing aboard. I STILL don't think that not wearing a PFD
(but having one handy) was an error.
From: "Capt. Mooron" <overproof@mooron.ca>
Well put Lloyd. I agree totally with your newfound discoveries on the after
effects of hypothermia. I have lived in the Arctic and have been subject to
Hypothermia situations on numerous occasions. It will kill slowly. Shivering
is a good sign... ambivalence to warmth is a bad sign. Heat the core not the
extremities. Warm slowly. Application of heat too quickly can kill a hypothermia
victim in seconds. I suggest a floater suit in occasions where you find yourself
in ice cold water. Standard jacket type PFD's are useless.
Not sure that would have helped. Some of the serious issues with hypothermia,
I haven't seen anybody address yet. For example, when a person falls into
freezing water it is quite common for cold shock to drive the breath out of
them. Other effects are severe cramp, sometimes it brings on cardiac arrest.
I wouldn't count on a victim being able to grab & hold a life ring.
> MY "attempt at education" is to quell the
knee-jerk, solve-everything answer of the PFD. It is NOT the Universal Guaranteed-to-save-you
panacea that some people seem to think it is.
Agreed. Fishermen say the letters stand for 'Person Found Dead.' However,
floating *is* better than sinking.
> Especially when single-handing, all a PFD does is
make your death-struggle last a while longer. A harness is WAY more important.
Agreed, but you can't use a harness & dinghy in to shore at the
same time ;)
You mention that the victim insisted she was warm at first, this is not uncommon
for hypothermia. It doesn't feel like anything is wrong. But it can be dangerous.
One bad sign is if the person is slurring words or having difficulty with
cognitive tasks. Capt. Mooron mentioned that shivering is good, and that it
is bad to warm up a hypothermia victim too rapidly.... both correct. Drinking
warm fluids and breathing warm air are the two best ways, however if the victim
has clammy limbs with poor circulation, it is important to NOT rub the extremities
or try to restore circulation. That sends chilled blood to the heart and can
lead to cardiac arrest. Now might be a good time to mention that alcohol is
bad for hypothermia, despite it's reputation as anti freeze.
Anyone who goes out in boats should know about hypothermia, as you can die of it in water that is quite warm. It's just that it takes less time when the water is cold!
