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But Grand! It's only August! But something sparked my brain recently and got me to thinking "preparedness since the weather is changing and it will happen soon." Well, maybe not as this story will go, but still something worth talking about since the seasons are due to change soon.
So last night I was at work when we started having a torrential downpour (better known as a tropical storm in Florida, called a "rain shower" here in Oklahoma lol) and I had to respond out in it. Running around a building in the pouring rain without a rain jacket? Not the smartest thing, but it wasn't that cold and I figured I'd survive. Anyway, got fairly soaked in the aftermath and really didn't dry off that quickly. Ended up back in the air conditioning before the night was over and ended up taking a chill. Now, I wasn't anywhere close to hypothermia, but it did remind me to post up since we are almost through with summer and getting into the fall months.
Some things to remember:
Hypothermia doesn't require freezing temperatures to occur. Some years ago when I was stationed in Florida, several Army Rangers died during training. It wasn't that cold out that night (I was working, but they were wet and the ambient temps were in the 60s if I recall correctly. So a combination of the wet clothing they were wearing (they were practicing river crossings), the ambient temperatures and the fog that rolled in (stalling rescue efforts) a number of their group died that night.
Clothing, specifically wet clothing, is the real killer. As Protus often says, cotton kills. Cotton has zero thermal properties when wet and can accelerate the onset of hypothermia. The only defense against it is to replace wet clothing. Just like last night, my body was cold, but my feet were still warm (proper socks) so the only remedy was to replace the wet clothing (cotton and nylon-cotton mix). Replace and dry clothing if capable. This can be mitigated by different clothing types, wool and certain synthetics, but the wind can cut right through the thermal barrier and cool liquid (sweat) close to the skin causing heat loss. Overall, synthetic or wool is the way to go with a windproof and waterproof layer on top.
Alcohol and cold weather...not good bedfellows. Alcohol tends to make the body send blood to the skin which might make you feel warmer, but is doing nothing more than transferring vital heat out of the body. And if your skin is cold, transfers cold blood back to the core robbing additional heat. While that cinnamon schnapps might give you a momentary feeling of warmth, it does little more than open the body's natural radiators and leak out heat.
Pace yourself even in the cooler temperatures. Hard work will generate sweat. Sweat causes the wet clothing. Wet clothing causes hypothermia. Hypothermia causes death if you aren't careful. Even when hiking or doing other activities in the fall or spring, bring spare socks, t-shirts and other clothing to change into. It's a good idea to change socks as you are hiking as it is, both to keep your feet comfortable as well as the heat loss. When stopped, check for overly wet clothing and change as necessary.
Be wary of that polar bear plunge. Okay, I've done it, youthful thing and all (and never again I might add lol) and immediately got warm afterwards. But water is a wonderful conductor of heat. And typically conducting it away from your body. So after the long dreary winter, you feel the need for a spring plunge into your local creek/river/pond/lake, be mindful of the time you are in the water and how much heat you loose. Dry off and change clothing afterwards.
Treatment. Generally, changing clothing, getting to a warm environment and rewarming the body are the most efficient ways of dealing with mild and moderate cases of hypothermia. For mild and moderate cases, warm, dry clothing, a heat source, warm fluids (no caffeine or alcohol) and warm objects (water bottles, body heat, etc) can help speed the rewarming process. Reminder not to bundle up too much as the body can trap cold air close to the skin in the same manner in which it traps warm air. For extreme cases, more direct methods and what's known as "active rewarming" is the best method. Active rewarming often involved warmed IV fluids, enemas and warm humidified air. If you are not proficient in IVs, I would not suggest it. As for the others...do what you're comfortable with.
Overall, hypothermia is a preventable and highly curable ailment. A little common sense and preparation goes a long way.
So last night I was at work when we started having a torrential downpour (better known as a tropical storm in Florida, called a "rain shower" here in Oklahoma lol) and I had to respond out in it. Running around a building in the pouring rain without a rain jacket? Not the smartest thing, but it wasn't that cold and I figured I'd survive. Anyway, got fairly soaked in the aftermath and really didn't dry off that quickly. Ended up back in the air conditioning before the night was over and ended up taking a chill. Now, I wasn't anywhere close to hypothermia, but it did remind me to post up since we are almost through with summer and getting into the fall months.
Some things to remember:
Hypothermia doesn't require freezing temperatures to occur. Some years ago when I was stationed in Florida, several Army Rangers died during training. It wasn't that cold out that night (I was working, but they were wet and the ambient temps were in the 60s if I recall correctly. So a combination of the wet clothing they were wearing (they were practicing river crossings), the ambient temperatures and the fog that rolled in (stalling rescue efforts) a number of their group died that night.
Clothing, specifically wet clothing, is the real killer. As Protus often says, cotton kills. Cotton has zero thermal properties when wet and can accelerate the onset of hypothermia. The only defense against it is to replace wet clothing. Just like last night, my body was cold, but my feet were still warm (proper socks) so the only remedy was to replace the wet clothing (cotton and nylon-cotton mix). Replace and dry clothing if capable. This can be mitigated by different clothing types, wool and certain synthetics, but the wind can cut right through the thermal barrier and cool liquid (sweat) close to the skin causing heat loss. Overall, synthetic or wool is the way to go with a windproof and waterproof layer on top.
Alcohol and cold weather...not good bedfellows. Alcohol tends to make the body send blood to the skin which might make you feel warmer, but is doing nothing more than transferring vital heat out of the body. And if your skin is cold, transfers cold blood back to the core robbing additional heat. While that cinnamon schnapps might give you a momentary feeling of warmth, it does little more than open the body's natural radiators and leak out heat.
Pace yourself even in the cooler temperatures. Hard work will generate sweat. Sweat causes the wet clothing. Wet clothing causes hypothermia. Hypothermia causes death if you aren't careful. Even when hiking or doing other activities in the fall or spring, bring spare socks, t-shirts and other clothing to change into. It's a good idea to change socks as you are hiking as it is, both to keep your feet comfortable as well as the heat loss. When stopped, check for overly wet clothing and change as necessary.
Be wary of that polar bear plunge. Okay, I've done it, youthful thing and all (and never again I might add lol) and immediately got warm afterwards. But water is a wonderful conductor of heat. And typically conducting it away from your body. So after the long dreary winter, you feel the need for a spring plunge into your local creek/river/pond/lake, be mindful of the time you are in the water and how much heat you loose. Dry off and change clothing afterwards.
Treatment. Generally, changing clothing, getting to a warm environment and rewarming the body are the most efficient ways of dealing with mild and moderate cases of hypothermia. For mild and moderate cases, warm, dry clothing, a heat source, warm fluids (no caffeine or alcohol) and warm objects (water bottles, body heat, etc) can help speed the rewarming process. Reminder not to bundle up too much as the body can trap cold air close to the skin in the same manner in which it traps warm air. For extreme cases, more direct methods and what's known as "active rewarming" is the best method. Active rewarming often involved warmed IV fluids, enemas and warm humidified air. If you are not proficient in IVs, I would not suggest it. As for the others...do what you're comfortable with.
Overall, hypothermia is a preventable and highly curable ailment. A little common sense and preparation goes a long way.
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