[Paddlewise] hypothermia.

    I watched a show on Discovery Health about California beach lifeguards.  I very small sailboat was sinking and the lifeguards motored out to pick up a very fit 50ish father and his teenage son.  They were not quite waist deep in 55 degree water while sitting in the awash sailboat.  The son responded well to the directions of lifeguards but the father was a very different story.  He did not appear able to follow basic commands, was sluggish, and very overwhelmed by the situation. Basic tasks such as being asked to let go of his oars and  climb up the ladder into the boat  were very much past his ability to reason.  He tried to climb up the running outboard of a harbor patrol boat while repeated being told of the danger.  When finally dragged onto the deck of the lifeguard boat the father was covered with a blanket which he immediately shrugged off.  The son seemed confused by his fathers actions.
     I have never seen hypothermia past the slurred speech stage.  It was a real shock to witness a video of just how crazy it can get.  I don't think a group of kayakers could have gotten this man to the beach without the help of a larger boat.  Both victims were wearing shorts, sun hats, and long sleeve t-shirts.  Only the son was wearing a life jacket.  

Jim et al

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