Re: [Paddlewise] Hypothermia

Doug Lloyd wrote:
 
> I did an article for the CPA Newsletter not too long ago, fully
> detailing the hypothermia aspects of a pre season trip I did with a
> couple of buddies exactly two years ago that ended with a rescue. One of
> the paddlers benefited immensely from the availability of [a rewarming]
> device, which I also detailed, in terms of the positive default
> of slow warming in the field with humidified oxygen. I sent a copy of
> the article to the list but didn't even get one comment back, and I
> wasn't too sure how the CPA crowd accepted it. BTW, I'm looking into a
> new portable, personal-sized, compact "RescueQair" field unit for
> myself. Anyway, one kayak mag editor who reviewed the CPA article said it
> lacked pellucid merit and was way too long and complex. I realized then
> how superficial most of the paddling community is. Of course, it could
> be simply that I narcotize fellow paddlers. 

Re:  "superficiality" and tendency to "narcotize:"  probably some of both,
Doug.  I'll accept being somewhat superficial if you'll accept the other
label.  Pejorative exchanges aside, I suspect the "ho hum" reaction may have
other, valid bases:

1. Heated, moist air/oxygen mixtures are nothing new.  They have been used by
the local CG medics and other rescue groups on this side of the line for many
years, and have been well described in the popular press, at least around
here.  As you allude, providing heated, moist ventilation to a victim in the
usual yak rescue scenario is unfeasible from our platforms.  Probably why most
of us "blow off" information on them.

2. I bet _preventing_ hypothermia is where most of us invest our efforts. 
Unlike folks who love to dance on the edge, the rest of us would prefer to
avoid situations where our insulation regimes are tested to the max:  we hunker
down or don't go out or hit the beach and put on some more insulation, to
paddle another time.

Agreed, many of us are superficial enough to be prone to slipping into
hypothermia.  It happened to me and my ex once on a high ridge in Jasper
National Park.  We were able to recognize what was happening and take steps to
reverse the process.  In this vein, the article in Sea Kayaker a couple issues
ago on the couple who got standed near Tofino (west coast of Vancouver Island,
BC) was a classic scenario:  blowing and wet, only sorta cold (58 F), did not
hydrate or refuel, allowed their insulation to get wet, and did not make good
use of the resources they had.  Lotta small dumb mistakes.

Been there, done that.  But, I'm still here.  And, I bet most folks on this
list have had similar experiences and feel they are fairly well educated on
hypothermia ... this being an elite, less-than-normally-superficial group.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
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