[Paddlewise] case studies-cold water

Hi John,

 

A few years ago, a young lady from Dartmouth College, a sprint flat water
racer, was visiting some friends and fellow racers in Germany (?). They went
out for a paddle on a canal. On the return leg, she was lagging behind a
little bit near the end of the run. The fellow next ahead of here looked
back to see how she was doing and saw her boat was empty. Flat-water racers
don't wear pfds under any conditions.

 

She was missing for days. They assumed she had capsized and gone ashore.
They eventually found her on the bottom about where the boat was first
spotted. Cold shock, gasping, immediate loss of consciousness and drowning.

 

In the case of the marines, on the Potomac River in early March of 1986
(I'll look it up), the nine marines were paddling a war canoe across the
river (no rapids there, just a little bit of tide). They capsized about 100
yards off shore. Water temp about 36 degrees F. None of them made it to
shore. They were water experts. They were dressed in sweat clothes and
equipped with seat cushions for safety. This is cold paralysis that makes
the arms and legs non-functional after about 5-10 minutes in the water. Some
may have died from gasping and drowning. These were top conditions athletes,
but none could make it to shore.

 

I have other cases.

 

Chuck Sutherland
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