Re: [Paddlewise] Cold and skills

While not having personally experienced this, it would seem like a possible result depending on the treatment rendered after removing the person from the cold challenge. Additionally, this would be more likely, I would think, depending on where they really were on the hypothermic scale. The fact that they experienced this state of apparent exhaustion, would indicate to me that they were perhaps more hypothermic than thought post incident, i.e., greater medical danger than thought. 

With exposure to a cold challenge, in this case cold water, our body will go into a survival mode (shell-core shunt) where the blood will go from the extreminities to the vital organs to keep them at proper operating temperature. And, our body will try to generate heat by shivering. Both, can use a lot of the energy stores we have on-board at that point in time (same is true in someone having a seizure).  Thus, treatment for anyone taking a "cold swim" would need to include replenishment of the energy store with simple sugars followed by more complex carbohydrates, and drinking water to keep hydrated. This is, of course, in addition to removal from the cold challenge, including dry clothing, insulation to retain heat, and protecting from the wind. While exercise (continuing to paddle) is good for heat generation, without replenishment of the energy store, we may make them worse off in the long run as we further deplete them. 

John Browning, EMT, WEMT
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

-----Original Message-----
From: "Joe P." <jpylka_at_earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 21 May 2010 11:47:45 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
To: Paddlewise<PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Cold and skills

 -- Now having joined the ranks of the er, subcutaneous thermal insulation enhanced, 
I;m not so much susceptible to hypothermia as I once was.
   But I want to raise another question in the midst of all this.
Teaching paddling around this time of year I will occasionally have a student in the drink.
I often hear subsequently that once they got home they would go into a period of deep sleep,
not necessarily one of exhaustion, and it takes them some time to get back to normal.  
   This last Saturday I had a student who took a long swim on a broad river at 60 deg F.  He was 
fine then and happily paddled another two miles to the takeout.  Good on the way back, too.
But yesterday he mentioned that he'd spent a lot of the last few days sleeping, and just never 
felt active during that period -- even had doubts about being able to perform this coming weekend.  

   So, is this a common observation of what happens after a hypothermic challenge?

Joe P. 

-----Original Message-----
>On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 3:44 AM, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote:
>> Fat people (what's this "solidly built" euphemism stuff, anyway?) are
>> better survivors in cold water for their blubber.
>>
>Bless you!!!   :D
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