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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Surprise introduction to the Gasp Reflex
Posted By: tom In Response To: Surprise introduction to the Gasp Reflex (Brian Nystrom)
Date: Friday, 24 May 2002, at 3:34 p.m.
: Last night at a skills session, I went for my first unintentional swim in 7
: months, thanks to the gasp reflex.: It was warm (mid-60's), sunny, the water temp was around 50 on the
: dead-flat-calm lake and I was clad in my usual dry suit and fleece. One of
: the students in the beginner's class I was assisting in asked about
: balance bracing, so I took the opportunity to do an impromptu
: demonstration, sans hood or nose plugs. After sculling down, I rested on
: the suface for a few seconds and all was fine. The water was brisk, but
: not uncomfortable. To recover, I normally submerge momentarily, set up and
: do a lazy roll onto the aft deck. No big deal, right?: This time, however, as soon as I went under, I started gasping
: uncontrollably. I managed to avoid sucking in any water, but became
: disoriented and felt that insidious feeling of panic creeping up on me.
: Things went downhill from there in a hurry. A rushed setup and head-up
: exit resulted in a blown roll. Sculling furiously kept me above water for
: a few seconds, but I was gasping hard and so far out of position that I
: couldn't stay up. The partial breath I got wasn't enough and when I
: submerged again, I knew I was in trouble. The fastest way out would have
: been to set up and roll as I had originally planned or simply scull to the
: surface, but reason was overidden by the desperate need to breathe RIGHT
: NOW, and I grabbed the relase loop and bailed. I even let go of the
: paddle, something that I almost never do. UGH! How embarassing!: Although my body was warm and dry, I could not control my breathing, having
: inhaled a bit of water during the wet exit. Since I was swimming, we took
: the opportunity to demonstate a T-rescue for the students. Even when back
: in the boat, it took several minutes to get my breathing back to normal.: Lessons learned: 1) The gasp reflex is for real and can strike you even when
: you're comfortable, relaxed and paddling in benign conditions. I have been
: swimming and rolling in much colder conditions without problems, but I was
: always wearing a hood.: 2) The gasping is absolutely uncontrollable and can incapacitate you quickly.
: Self rescue would have been quite difficult until my breathing calmed
: down. I don't know if I would have been able to execute a re-enter and
: roll at all.: 3) Always wear a hood when playing in 50 degree water. I suspect that it was
: the lack of head insulation that triggered the gasping.: 4) Even a reliable roll isn't 100% reliable. Although I was executing moves
: that I had practiced many times, the effects of gasping were so
: overpowering that even muscle memory failed me. Unexpected occurances can
: disorient you to the point where your skills will desert you.: 5) Spend lots of time in the water, especially upside-down, to help aleviate
: the feeling of panic that can occur if you're not comfortable being
: submerged. I thought I had licked this, but I was obviously wrong.: 6) Regardless of your skill/confidence level, you should not take the effects
: of cold water lightly. Unless you have gills, it's a foreign environment
: that can hurt you.: I was never in any real danger, as rescue was close at hand, but this was
: certainly an eye-opening experience.: Paddle safe.
: Brian
It is my understanding, as limited as it is, that the reaction brian had to the cold water would be more based on the cold water coming in contact with his face and nasal passages than with his head. A hood does not protect the face. If the hood covered the neck area this might be of some help. Over the years some confusion has emerged about the dive reflex. As with many complicated reactions I am not sure it is completely understood and even that all authorities would agree on the cause and effect.
When ice rescue personnel are in their gumby suits and shuffling their way across the ice they are also in danger of having the same reaction as Brian had. They are warm, not in danger, completely insulated. They break through the ice and when their exposed face is immersed in the cold water they can have trouble. It can even go the other way and they take in two lungfulls of cold water and are the victim of “sudden drowning”.
I believe it is thought this gaping reflex is an involuntary action that you cannot overcome by your will. It does not matter how many times you have rolled in your life, how comfortable you are in the water, or how sure you are of your skills. If the right combination of circumstances happens you will not be able to override it.
Because of what I learned in ice rescue I have incorporated a ritual into my own paddling. It is not sientific, proven, experimented with or documented so be forwarned-there is no authority behind this what-so-ever.
If I am paddling on cold water and the air temp is warm (or if the air temp is cold and I am nice and warm in a drysuit) I splash my face with the cold lake or ocean water. Easy, not rocket science (like the forward stroke) and I have no proof that it is helpful. My reasoning is that this forewarns my system to the cold water. It does not appear that immersion of the hands will do this as the gag reflex seems to be tied to cold water on the face and nasal passages. Do not know if this works but it is refreshing.
tom
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