Re: [Paddlewise] Cold Water Gasp

Craig MacKinnon writes:

> I have controlled the gasp response to prevent reflexive water inhalation. I
> suspect that non-swimmers unaccustomed to cold water exposure may be at the
> greatest risk. Given the other potential dangers associated with cold shock
> including  increased heart rate and blood pressure, cardiac arrest, loss of
> consciousness and drowning, what type of practice in cold water are you
> suggesting? Prudence would dictate a physicians approval before someone
> attempted a "polar bear club" type sudden immersion in cold water. 
> 
> Craig

Basically, practicing a few rolls and rescues in cold water without a hood, 
at least enough to get you used to the feeling -- and your limitations. The 
more used to it you are, the less likely you are to panic, bail out, or miss 
a roll. I believe in practicing in all conditions I'm likely to paddle in. 
On Lake Superior, where you can have very hot days on very cold water, it is 
not always practical to wear a hood or heavy insulation when paddling. You 
should not practice alone, however, or far from shore, or wearing a T-shirt 
and shorts! On Memorial day weekend, when the water temperature was about 
38-42 degrees, I didn't roll till we were back in the harbor at Little Sand 
Bay. 

You may be right about a physician's approval, but I don't know how many 
people do that before going into the lake after a sauna, and I have not 
heard of any sauna-related deaths in this state. I suspect it depends on 
your general state of health; the people I did this with were all 
cross-country skiers. Shoveling snow is a much bigger killer in Minnesota, 
if only because many more people shovel snow than jump into ice water. :-) 

Chuck Holst 

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