Re: [Paddlewise] Cold Water Gasp

Hi,

>From memory I recall that cold shock/gasp reflex can't be prevented by
the usual cold water clothing (wet- or drysuit), unless a additional
spray hood is worn (feature of real survival suits).  Cold shock with
related symptoms prevents coordinated action for up to several minutes,
the best reason to wear a pfd to survive this period.  After cold shock
is over, one benefits from immersion gear since hypothermia is delayed.
I got this information from a seminar here in our university, held this
spring by a guy who does his research on cold water immersion topics
(offshore industry is one of the main sponsors of his program).

However, the inital response to cold water immersion is different with
every individual.  Frequent exposure gets the individual habituated, i.e.
cold shock last shorter time.  Paddlers who frequently roll and practice
in cold water get this habituation. Likely they slip unnoticable into
this status of higher cold water readiness, since sane people start
learning and practicing skills in warmer water and graduate over time to
cold water conditions.  Longer breaks in practice schedulle and
habituation can be lost.

So far I only practiced a few times in water cold enough to give me brain
freeze (aka icecream headache).  Completed those rolls and avoided
swimming -maybe this is the way to learn skills punishment upon failure-.

Cheers

Ulli

 


 

>From: Kirk Olsen >To: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net >Subject: Re:
[Paddlewise] Cold Water Gasp >Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 12:34:20 -0500 >
>Just catching up after a week on the road... > >At 10:54 PM 11/15/01
-0600, Larry Koenig wrote: > > >The "gasp" I've never experienced. >
>I've experienced the "gasp". My canoe partner and I tipped over in
probably 34 degree >water. We hadn't been paddling hard and were not
dressed for immersion. I was in high school at the time and had no extra
insulation. The river we were on was a slow flowing river >about 35 feet
wide. I leaned over to pick up some trash... > >The feeling was very
similar to having the wind knocked out of you. With the added joy >of
needing to swim, a minimal distance, in that condition. > >I have no
interest in a repeat experience. > >The gasp, hypothermia to the point of
convulsive shivering and dementia, blacking out from dehydration.
Hopefully I'm smarter now that I have experience.... > >kirk >
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