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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Re: Surprise introduction to the Gasp Reflex
Posted By: Ken Sutherland In Response To: Re: Surprise introduction to the Gasp Reflex (tom)
Date: Wednesday, 29 May 2002, at 6:07 a.m.
""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.""
This is exactly what we were taught in a cold water seminar put on by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht for our local paddling club. If you want some interesting info on hypothermia and related problems/responsed do a search using hypothermia and Dr. G Giesbrecht as search words. Dr. Giesbrecht has done LOTS of interesting studies on hypothermia, including a TV special aired on the Discovery channel where he cut a hole in a lake and entered the water in hiking type clothing. He did a few self rescues showing different methods for getting out of the water onto the ice, each time re-entering the water and talking about what was happening to his body and thought processes as time and the cooling of his body progressed. After about 10 - 15 mins he was unable to do a self rescue. He stated that once a self rescue was no longer a possibility your best bet is to wet your jacket sleeves and hope they freeze to the ice and give a passerby a chance at rescue if you are unconcious but still alive. If I'm not mistaken he was in the water for about 40 mins total. He was pulled out by firefighters and paramedics that were on the scene for safety reasons. He was warmed properly in the ambulance, after the demonstration was over.
That is dedication to ones chosen field of study.
Heck, I had to put a blanket over me just to sit on the couch and watch the show.Ken
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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