Preventing Hypothermia and Treatment
Preventing Hypothermia and Treatment
For those of you who enjoy the benefits of extending your season on the water there are additional considerations that must be made prior to leaving the dock. When you are out on the water for work or pleasure, there is always a chance that you will find yourself or a crewmember falling overboard. In this blog we are going to look at the primary killer of boaters and examine several ways to increase your chances of survival in the event of an emergency in cold weather climate.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a lowering of a person's core temperature. It occurs when a person suffers a loss of body heat. General body hypothermia is the leading cause of death among recreational boaters and other emergencies at sea. If not recognized and treated promptly, hypothermia can rapidly turn survivors into fatalities. Survivors in critical hypothermia conditions may suffer a fatal loss of body temperature from physical exertion, or as a result of any delay in taking immediate and positive measures to restore body heat. Struggling survivors, trying to aid in their own rescue, may drive their body temperature down to the point where unconsciousness and/or death results. Survivors removed from the water and left untreated may suffer further critical loss in body temperature, bringing on death after being rescued. Survivors in "warm" water can also suffer from hypothermia if exposed for long enough periods of time.
Cold air temperatures can bring on hypothermia if adequate protective clothing is not worn. Survival times in water vary considerably. Survival depends on the type of clothing worn, the amount of physical exertion, the blood alcohol levels, and other factors. Some survivors, when taken aboard may appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A person moderately hypothermic will show symptoms of an intoxicated person. The risk of Hypothermia can be greatly reduced by wearing the proper type of protective clothing. There are a variety of protective options in the market and each product contributes to the wearer's thermal protection by different methods.
Layering Clothing
An important method of protecting yourself while operating your boat in a cold weather environment would be to properly layer your clothing. This method of dressing allows you to regulate your temperature by taking off or putting on additional clothing layers. Layers are broken down into three categories: Inner, mid, and outer. These three layers work together to trap heat, wick moisture, breath, block wind, and repel water.
Base Layer: The base or wicking layer which should be worn next to your skin should be designed to move moisture away from your skin, keeping you dry and warm after bursts of activity.
Mid layer: The middle or insulating layer is designed to be worn over the base layer and under the outer layer. Made of synthetic thermal fibers, it assists the movement of moisture to the outer layer.
Outer Layer: The outer or waterproof layer is intended to keep the elements out. These usually have very little or no thermal properties, but are entirely water and windproof.
Treatment
Treatment for hypothermia will depend on both the condition of the patient and treatment facilities available. Survivors who are rational and capable of recounting their experiences, although shivering dramatically, will generally only require that wet clothes be removed and replaced with dry clothes or blankets and a warm environment to rest. In more serious cases, where victims are semiconscious or near death, a medical facility should be contacted as soon as possible for detailed instructions for proper care and handling. While awaiting medical instructions, immediately administer first aid to survivors using the following procedures:
After recovering a victim from the cold, avoid rough handling of the victim as this can cause further harm. Check for the presence of breathing and heartbeat. If the victim is not breathing and has no heartbeat, begin CPR immediately. If the victim is breathing, and has a pulse, gently transfer the person to a warm environment. Be sure to check the person's breathing and heartbeat frequently. Always remain prepared to immediately begin CPR if breathing and heart beat stop.
Lay unconsciousness or semiconscious victims face up with the head slightly lower than the rest of the body. If vomiting occurs, turn the patient's head to one side. Observe respiration closely and remove any secretions from the victim's nose and mouth.
Remove the victim's clothes with minimum movement of the body. Cut the clothes away with scissors or a knife if necessary. If a patient cannot be removed to a compartment to be warmed with blankets, dry clothing, or other warming methods, then DO NOT remove wet clothing. Under these circumstances, the wet clothing is better than no clothing.
Do not give anything orally, especially alcohol.
Insulate a victim from further heat loss by wrapping the person in a blanket. Do not attempt to aggressively rewarm an unconscious or semiconscious victim, as rapid warming can cause dangerous complications.
When there will be a delay getting a victim to a hospital, begin gentle rewarming techniques.
Treat for shock.
Evacuate a victim to a medical facility soon after or during emergency treatment.
By taking the necessary precautions your boating and fishing season can be greatly extended.
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