yessnoo:
Well i don't feel like following the link because frankly...i am lazy...but from what i have read not only does the breathing happen initially...assuming you make it through this portion the next step is for all of your blood vessels to contract forcing most of the blood into the core section of your body...your body tries to reduce heat loss and contain it all in the core section to keep the vital organs at a reasonable temperature for longer...(the reason you hear about people taking there clothes off after getting severe hypothermia in the cold is because once your body loses control it relaxes the blood vessels and the blood from your core rushes to your extremities causing a feeling much like being on fire)
the navy seals amongst other special marine forces train for cold water immersion...but from what i have read they can only control a small amount of breathing technique...what they mostly control is the cardiovascular side to prevent there blood vessels from contracting and keep there heart rate to a minimum...i don't know how they do it but they do some sort of muscle exercises as soon as they get in the water...but nobody can control the initial gasp you take when cold water hits your skin...its totally involuntary
there are plenty of cases of well trained individuals (groups also) dieing in very cold water very quickly...
on top of that if you do happen to survive in the water and you do get rescued...if you have suffered a significant loss of body temperature and the person treating your condition doesn't know what they are doing...you will likely die basically if you are warmed up to fast you die
im basing this all on memory of things i have read...so don't quote me on anything lol
ConeHeadMuddler:
Great thread and good answers. KT's dissertation is awesome. It has to be some of the best writing I've ever read on the subject.
I was already thinking "Cold Water Shock" as my first answer, as it could cause you to drown. But I couldn't have gone into such an informative and lengthy discussion. Wow! Great stuff. I always dress for the water temp.
Since I quit surfing, the cold seems to get to me quicker and worse. Maybe I should start taking cold showers...ugh! I used to surf alone a lot, even during the winter, and sometimes at remote locations. Self rescue is usually all a NW surfer has to rely on. Even with your buddies in the water, you may be very alone. No lifeguards with waverunners or helicopters to yank you out, and while you are struggling in the rip after your leash snapped and your board has disappeared from view, your buddy is sitting outside looking at the horizon for the next set. He can't see you or hear you. You're on your own. I figured getting bopped in the head by my board and getting knocked unconscious, or coming up from a wipeout with golfball-sized charley horses in BOTH calves at once might be the worst while surfing alone. I always used to take a last ride to the beach before my hypothermia got too bad, but toward the end of my surfing days, a bad charley horse would often send me to the beach after only an hour in the surf.
That's my $.02
tatco:
Absolutely excellent! This is exactly what I was looking for. I'm a newB and my biggest fear was falling off the SOT in our cold Colorado waters. I see Folks on the water cycles in wet suites but not in dry suites. But I never see them until the June July time frame. Hardly ever see kayaks out here. But I am determined to give it a go.
The information on this subject has greatly increased my respect for cold water. I run a drift boat on our tail waters and although I have a waist belt pfd, I now realize that if I go over in a river that's 42 degrees, it's going to be a rough go.
When I bought my used kayak it came with a PFD. Based on what I have read on here I'll get the best dang PFD I can afford and have someone who knows how to fit me help me with the selection.
Thanks again!
ZeeHawk:
--- Quote from: tatco on March 09, 2009, 09:38:03 AM ---When I bought my used kayak it came with a PFD. Based on what I have read on here I'll get the best dang PFD I can afford and have someone who knows how to fit me help me with the selection.
--- End quote ---
Exactly! Fit makes a big difference. The first one I got was pretty much based on price. My name is Zee, and I am a cheap ass. But when you do try a bunch on you'll find that a few that feel really good. Those are the ones you want because you're going to spend a lot of time with them on. Plus that fit just might save your ass in the end too. Anyway, my point was, tatco hit the nail on the head. Try a bunch on, get someone to point out the finer things in PFD's, and get comfy and safe out there... oh, and don't forget to get a few fish also! ;)