BOATING TIPS -- JUNE 1994
Hypothermia

Only a few of us attended the May "Clinic of the Month" where fellows from LFS talked about "Hypothermia". And the rest missed a very good --- and important --- program!

There isn't a boater around with more than a few years of experience that hasn't seen or been directly involved in some kind of incident where unplanned immersion in the water took place. In my own case, the most recent event was on April 23 at Friday Harbor, where a nice young girl about 11 years old rode off the dock on her bike. The bike sank, her mom and I helped her get out, and the next day her Dad rented scuba gear and got her bike back. Fortunately, that is the whole story, no injuries, just a scary experience for a youngster!

After hauling her out, we took her over to the swim step of our boat and warmed her up with hot water from our boat, dumping/spraying it on her like a shower. It only took a few minutes before she was better, since she wasn't in for more than two or three minutes.

At the seminar, I learned among other things that that was probably EXACTLY THE WRONG THING TO DO! Giving a shower to a possibly-hypothermic person causes the capillaries nearest the skin's surface to expand, and get blood flowing there, yes. But it also thereby causes our farther-internal blood vessels to have insufficient blood. That's why a more seriously hypothermic person gets dizzy or even faints if warmed too rapidly from the outside. Slow warming (body-to-body is best) is important for any seriously-chilled person!

There isn't space here to cover everything that we learned about hypothermia. But here are the basics for helping a seriously chilled person:

1. If conditions indicate the possibility of hypothermia, treat for it;
2. Handle the victim VERY gently;
3. Get the victim out of the water and remove wet clothing;
4. In a water rescue, victim should be lifted horizontally, if possible, without causing delay;
5. Check for breathing and pulse, give CPR if necessary;
6. Lay skin-to-skin next to the victim under a blanket or sleeping bag;
7. Continue treatment for at least an hour;
8. Keep trying! Get victims to a treatments facility ASAP.

These steps are from a very helpful Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) checklist I am sure you can get a copy of from LFS.

Part of the seminar dealt with prevention of chilling, and that took us to the subject of PFD's and survival gear. As for this part of the program, I can only say "times are changing". Some of the new life vests and storm gear are more effective than ever before, and much more comfortable (especially some of the inflatables). And the opportunity for serious cruisers to get more serious flotation suits or coats, if not survival suits, seems to be more and more economical. The prices for the gear, though not cheap, are proportionately less than they used to be, and merit your consideration.

Now would be a good time, near the beginning of the boating season, to stop at your favorite marine store and look these new products over, and see the older, improved one, as well.

Bluntly, "What good was your boating fun or boat if you died while enjoying it?" It's so easy, these days, to increase your survival chances dramatically with the right gear, it merits your serious consideration. Soon.

Thanks to LFS for a wonderful seminar!

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