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Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board
Re: Hot/Cold - Wet/Dry
Posted By: Ian Johnston In Response To: Re: Fire and Ice (Pete W P)
Date: Saturday, 18 December 1999, at 4:12 a.m.
> A little thing I read on hypothermia mentions that int he event of a
> victim succumbing to it that a heavy wool blanket will not do the trick.
> Reflecting ones own body heat isnt enough. Additional heat from an exernal
> source must be introduced. Perhaps this is one of the reasons cold hands
> under the conditions dont heat up by their own. Sounds like its too taxing
> of the central heating system.> Pete
Hi Pete,
I agree. The response of the human body to temperature change is not very good. Both heating and cooling are very limited, mild temperature swings only, anything else and we need help. It is amazing the difference a small heat source will make. I was kayaking early spring a few years back and would have froze the buttocks off if it weren't for my tiny candle lantern hanging in the tent. (Spared no expense on a new sleeping bag the very next day.)
On a slightly different, but equally curious note, there was an article in a magazine last year that stated that about 50% of the people who were admitted to hospital last summer for dehydration were in fact not dehydrated. They were actually over hydrated !! The symptoms are the same and most people just assume it is dehydration. I guess thirst is triggered by the concentration of salt in your body. The trouble is that it takes so long for this response to be triggered. The saying "If you are thirsty, it is too late," is true, but you can't just drink continually either.
Life is just too COOL !!!
Ian
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