Hypothermia - A Few Facts

Given that the ocean's water temperature is unusually low for this time of the year, it's important to be aware of how you are coping with it, and those swimming with you.

Here are a few facts on hypothermia from Wikipedia. Based on these three stages, I was in the second one when I DECIDED to get help during Sunday's swim. Fortunately, I realised that I was in trouble and I was still alert enough to get it.

***

Hypothermia refers to any condition in which the temperature of a body drops below the level required for normal metabolism and/or bodily function to take place.

Stage 1
Body temperature drops by 1°C - 2°C below normal temperature C (1.8°-3.6°F, or between 96.8°F - 95°F). Mild to strong shivering occurs. Unable to perform complex tasks with the hands; the hands become numb. Blood vessels in the outer extremities contract, lessening heat loss to the outside air. Breathing becomes quick and shallow. Goose bumps form, raising body hair on end in an attempt to create a insulating layer of air around the body (a vestigial response, but useful in other species).

Stage 2
Body temperature drops by 2°C - 4°C (3.6°F - 7.2°F, or between 95°F - 91.4°F). Shivering becomes more violent. Muscle miscoordination becomes apparent. Movements are slow and labored, accompanied by a stumbling pace and mild confusion, although the victim may appear alert. Surface blood vessels contract further as the body focuses its remaining resources on keeping the vital organs warm. Victim becomes pale. Lips, ears, fingers and toes may become blue.

Stage 3
Body temperature drops below approximately 32°C or 90°F (normal is 37°C or 98.6°F). Violent shivering persists; difficulty speaking, sluggish thinking, and amnesia start to appear; inability to use hands and stumbling are also usually present. Cellular metabolic processes shut down. Below 86°F (30°C) shivering stops and the exposed skin becomes blue and puffy, muscle coordination very poor, walking nearly impossible, and the victim exhibits incoherent/irrational behavior or even a stupor. Pulse and respiration rates decrease significantly. Major organs fail. Clinical death occurs. Because of decreased cellular activity in stage 3 hypothermia, the body will actually take longer to undergo brain death.

[The treatment that I received was: get out of the water as fast as possible, wrapped in emergency blanket, warm to hot shower, take off wet clothes, wrapped again in emergency blanket and towels and anything else available and then given oxygen. And I was still shivering so much that someone watched to make sure I didn't fall off the medical table.]

So please be careful in the water when it's cold.