Re: [Paddlewise] Cold Water Gasp

In a message dated 11/16/01 10:15:27 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
HTERVORT_at_aol.com writes:


> In Wayne Horodowich's new and very excellent videos on Kayak re-entries and 
> rescues (http://www.useakayak.org/) there is a segment of video shot during 
> 
> testing of cold water effects.  A trained and experienced Navy(?) diver, 
> dressed in a swim suit and breathing through a typical diving mouthpiece, 
> is 
> strapped in a chair.  He is slowly lowered into water at (IFIRC) 50 F.  He 
> looks calm and collected until the water hits his head, then he starts 
> gasping uncontrollably in the mouthpiece.  I'm sure he was mentally 
> prepared. 
> What he wasn't was dressed for immersion.  The effect is real, and deadly 
> -- 
> just not universal.
> 
> Harold
> 
Being a west coast open ocean paddler where the temperatures are much colder 
than east coast waters, I have had some experience with cold water shock.  I 
have lead many trips in the waters here along the central coast of Ca. as 
well as several Santa Barbara Channel crossings to the Channel Islands.  I 
have also assisted Wayne Hordowhich teaching kayaking classes.

It is my belief, and this is strictly my own theory, that the effects of cold 
water shock effect differnet people in different ways. I have known paddlers 
that immediately are effected by cold water and experience the gasping 
effects of the sudden temperature changes.  I have known others that seem to 
be able to withstand those same changes with what appeared to be ease.  I'm 
am certainly not an expert on this subject but I feel this may be due to body 
chemistry, body mass and several other factors that I'm sure I'm not aware 
of.  

Personally, I know that I am one of those that are effected easily by cold 
water shock and do all I can to avoid this when I paddle the colder waters in 
the winter.  Wet suit, wet suit jacket, hydro skin shorts/pants and long 
sleeve hydro skin shirt, long finger gloves, and hydro skin skull warmer are 
all items I wear.  I was recently paddling in the colder waters of No. Ca. 
where the water temp. was 52 degrees. I was taking a class with the Tsunami 
Rangers and most the class was conducted in the surf and rock gardens.  
Because of the large surf we were often in the water and I always felt 
completely comfortable because of the way I had prepared for it.

Just my thoughts...
Gregg       


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