Article Surfing Archive

Water is great to play in. Swimming , canoeing, kayaking, rafting. There are lots of ways to get wet and have fun. But there are dangers too.

Of course everyone is aware of the threat of drowning. So we learn to swim and take other proper precautions such as wearing flotation devices. But water presents another more subtle danger that many people, especially novices to outdoor recreation, are not aware of.

Hypothermia! Water actually has the ability to drain the warmth from your body and turn you into an ice cube. Well, not literally (unless you are swimming in the Arctic Ocean) but the effect will be the same. You will die.

It's all a matter of simple physics. You can handle cold air because your body has the ability to manufacture enough warmth to compensate for heat it loses.

But water transfers heat over 200 times more efficiently than air. Immerse yourself in water and your body simply can't keep up. Even when the water is relatively warm, say 65 degrees, your body can't generate enough warmth to compensate for the heat being sucked out into the water.

You can be in danger even if you are not actually in the water. Maybe you are in a boat or even on shore, but you are constantly being splashed by the water spray. Combine that with a good wind blowing and you have the potential for hypothermia.

You may be comfortably dry in your canoe or kayak, enjoying a bright warm sunny day. But an unexpected event could send you into the lake or river.

The time it takes for hypothermia take hold varies depending on the water temperature and other factors. But be aware that even in 65 degree water, a person could succumb to it within a few hours.

One of the early symptoms of hypothermia is reduced ability to speak and think. Observe the members of your party and watch for signs of impaired speech. Other tings to look for are increased irritability, blue lips, uncontrolled shivering and clumsiness.

These early stages are the time to do something before hypothermia really sets in. Getting warm and dry will get you back to normal so you can continue with your activities.

If nothing is done, then hypothermia will set in and professional treatment will be needed.

The threat of hypothermia is something that you need to be aware of anytime you are near the water. The colder the water is, the quicker it will hit you. But even warmer water can kill you if it is given enough time. So be careful around water.

The good news is that even acute hypothermia need not be fatal provided you get out of the water and obtain treatment. If your planned outdoor activities involve water then it is your responsibility to learn how to avoid and how to treat hypothermia. Otherwise you could end up an ice cube.