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Hypothermia

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Hypothermia is your worst enemy, especially in extremely cold coastal waters. It occurs when your body loses more heat than it can produce. If not treated quickly, hypothermia can be fatal. Even in July, a dunking in the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence can lead to a total loss of manual dexterity within 5 minutes and death within 15 to 20.

Immersion in cold water isn't the only cause of hypothermia. Although less obvious, the combination of factors such as fatigue, dehydration, hunger, wind, rain, and air temperature can also be dangerous.

Acute hypothermia: Uncontrollable shivering, loss of manual dexterity, generalized numbness

Chronic hypothermia: Shivering stops, difficulty speaking, confusion, loss of balance, sleepiness then unconsciousness

You should take hypothermia very seriously. Take steps to protect yourself by wearing appropriate clothing and doing all you can to help your body fight the cold (rest, drink water, eat properly).

Treating Hypothermia

As soon as uncontrollable shivering and trembling (acute hypothermia) begins, take immediate action:

  1. Protect the victim from the elements (get victim out of water, shelter from wind or rain).
  2. Strip off wet clothing and replace with dry clothing. Cover head and neck (wool cap, sweater).
  3. A warm sweet drink (no alcohol or caffeine) will help the victim warm up from the inside out. A flask of warm water under the arms will have a similar effect.
  4. With mild hypothermia, exercise will help warm the victim. If the hypothermia is severe, place the person in a sleeping bag.
  5. When body temperature returns to normal, give the victim something rich in carbohydrates and sugar to eat (dehy - drated fruit, cereal bar, honey).
  6. Rest as long as necessary before setting off again. After the first four steps of treatment, victims with chronic hypothermia must be evacuated to a hospital as quickly as possible.

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Date modified:
2010-01-19