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From: Rob MacDonald <robm_at_udl.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Cold Water Hypothermia
Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 15:02:06 -0800
What happened to all the research that was being done at the the University 
of Victoria? They were leading the way in a lot of cold water hypothermia 
research a few years ago, and their research was responsible for many of 
the currently used cold water survival techniques and anit-hypothermia 
suits.  I am fairly sure they did research regarding different body types, 
different clothing combinations, etc.

Acclimatizaton is such a huge factor, one that won't appear on charts.  I 
recall a few years ago, I inadvertently went swimming in a cold lake  (5 
deg. C? - maybe colder) on April 4.  My hands lasted about 5 minutes, and 
were still mobile enough to tie a bowline around the canoe thwart to be 
towed in when rescued,  but were back in action after about 2 minutes out 
of the water.  My buddy, on the other hand, did not get function back in 
his hands for 40 minutes, spent in dry clothes by the fire.

Rob.

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