[Paddlewise] rescuers die/Hypothermia

>>>>Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2001 18:07:34 -0400
From: John Fereira <jaf30_at_cornell.edu>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] rescuers die

<snip>
They were 400 feet offshore when they capsized into the 38 degree
water.  They were not dressed for immersion.
<snip>
Hypothermia had already started to have an effect and the twice
swimmers were unable to stand after landing.  ***After a hot shower***, and the
rescuers gave
them warm clothes and drove them home. <<<<

I'm not an expert on hypothermia, but my understanding is that warming a
hypothermic person too quickly (like from putting them into a hot shower) can be
*fatal*.  I took a class on wilderness first aid, where they told the story of a
fishing boat stranded (someplace cold, I forget where) powerless and heatless
with a large crew.  They were "rescued" by another boat, who brought the
hypothermic but still living crew into the warm cabin onboard the rescue ship,
and within a short time every one of the rescued crew died.  My class instructor
said the best solution is to get them to a hospital immediately, but if that's
not possible he preferred the
put-a-cold-person-into-a-sleeping-bag-with-a-warm-person technique.

Evan
Woodinville, WA


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