Season change serves as reminder to beware of hypothermia

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As I squinted from under my (theoretical green) editor’s visor Thursday bemoaning the fact that this week, because of staffing demands, I would have to rely on a pinch hitter to fill this space, an electronic press release flitted across my terminal.

Anyone else likely would have hit the delete key and moved on to the next one. But this one struck me as interesting. It has a happy ending and hopefully I’ve included something you can take to the bank.

The story was from the Coast Guard and it told of a sailor who’d gotten into a bit of a jam because of cold weather. It could happen to any of us.

Here’s what the Coast Guard Southwest Harbor said:

On Monday at 4:20 p.m. “the Coast Guard received a call on channel 16 from the sailing vessel Debutante stating that he [the sailor] was trying to make his way into Southwest Harbor, but had lost his bearings and was unsure of his position. The owner/operator, John Belazy, from Milbridge, had been under way by himself all day on his 41-foot sailboat.

“The temperature barely got above 20 degrees Fahrenheit and Belazy was mildly hypothermic. Due to his condition, he was having difficulty plotting his position. The Coast Guard plotted his position for him and dispatched their 47-foot motor lifeboat to assist. The crew of the MLB located the Debutante just northwest of East Bunker Ledge (southeast of Seal Harbor).

“A crewman, Petty Officer David McKinney, went aboard the Debutante to assess Belazy’s condition and assist him with navigating the boat. The [Coast Guard] escorted the Debutante to Southwest Harbor where it moored up at Beal’s Lobster Pier. An ambulance was waiting for Belazy where he was examined, re-warmed and released. Belazy was taking his boat south for the winter in search of warm weather.”

At the end of the Coast Guard’s release was this notice: “Boaters are cautioned about the short and cold days on Maine waters this time of year. It is extremely difficult to stay warm on the water if one is exposed to the elements. The wind chill can suck the heat right out of a person in no time and degrade mental and physical abilities. It is unwise to operate a vessel alone, especially this time of year. There are fewer boats on the water to assist and sea conditions and temperatures can make survival very challenging. Be safe, and stay warm!”

I included this tale, not to embarrass Belazy, but to provide a real-life example to show that hypothermia can happen even without a dunking. With the change of season it’s appropriate, I think, to remind ourselves about hypothermia that can sneak up and grab you anytime.

I dragged out Stephen Gorman’s book “AMC Guide to Winter Camping” and visited the Center for Disease Control’s Web site for some words of wisdom. “Hypothermia occurs most commonly at very cold environmental temperatures but can occur even at cool temperatures [above 40?F] if a person becomes chilled from rain, sweat, or submersion in cold water,” the Center for Disease Control says.

Hypothermia happens when your body loses heat faster than it can generate it and your body temperature begins to drop. The CDC says, “Body temperature that is too low affects the brain, making the victim unable to think clearly or move well. This makes hypothermia particularly dangerous because a person may not know it is happening and won’t be able to do anything about it.” Based on this alone, Belazy showed good judgement in calling for assistance when he did -before he got worse.

You don’t have to be a mariner or winter camper to be concerned about lowered body temperatures. The CDC says you can fall into any of the following categories:

. Elderly people with inadequate food, clothing, or heating

. Babies sleeping in cold bedrooms

. Children left unattended

. Adults under the influence of alcohol

. Mentally ill individuals

. People who remain outdoors for long periods – the homeless, hikers, hunters, etc.

Our bodies generate heat through eating, drinking warm fluids, and exercise, or we can be warmed from an external source such as the sun, a fire, or someone else’s body.

When you’re outdoors, Gorman reminds us, “Not all body heat loss is a bad thing. Remember the layering principle – to allow excess heat to escape and avoid a perspiration drenching.” And here’s the key, Gorman says: “Uncontrolled heat loss is the enemy to be guarded against.”

There are four ways, he says, we lose heat:

. Radiation – when heat is emitted directly into the environment because of little or no insulation;

. Conduction – heat is lost when your body comes in contact with something cold;

. Convection – loss of the layer of air next to your skin warmed by your body. Clothing usually maintains this warm layer by trapping that layer of air next to your skin, but an outer clothing layer that lets wind through will rob you of that warm air layer.

As the speed of the wind increases, it can carry heat away from your body much more quickly. When there are high winds, serious weather-related health problems are more likely, even when temperatures are only cool, says the CDC.

. Evaporation – you breathe in cold air, it is warmed by your body and you breathe out water vapor. This contributes to evaporative heat loss. The same is true of perspiration.

If your clothing system does not move this moisture or vapor to the outside, you’ll likely soak your insulating layers and have reduced or no ability to retain body heat.

What are the warning signs for hypothermia?

For adults, the CDC says, look for shivering/exhaustion, confusion/fumbling hands, memory loss/slurred speech, and drowsiness. For infants look for bright red, cold skin, and very low energy.

Gorman says in the early stages of hypothermia (body temperature of 98.6 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) the victim shivers intensely, is uncoordinated and feels cold, tired, and confused.

In the middle stages of hypothermia (95 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit), Gorman says, the victim continues to shiver violently, has difficulty speaking, thinking, and walking, their judgement is impaired, and there may be amnesia and hallucinations. “Apathy, even lack of awareness concerning his situation, sets in.”

In the late middle stages (90 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), the victim stops shivering and has “lost the ability to rewarm himself. He can no longer walk or speak. His muscles are rigid, his skin turns blue, and his pulse and respiration slow perceptibly. He passes into a state of stupor,” Gorman relates.

After that, in the late stages (86 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit) the victim continues to cool and loses consciousness, is non-responsive and pulse and respiration may not be noticeable. Below 78 degrees “death occurs, usually from a combination of heart and respiratory failure, Gorman says.

Here’s what the CDC advises. “If you notice signs of hypothermia, take the person’s temperature. If it is below 95 degrees, the situation is an emergency – get medical attention immediately. If medical care is not available, begin warming the person as follows:

. Get the victim into a warm room or shelter.

. If the victim has on any wet clothing, remove it.

. Warm the center of the body first – chest, neck, head, and groin – using an electric blanket, if available. Or use skin-to-skin contact under loose, dry layers of blankets, clothing, towels, or sheets.

. Warm beverages can help increase the body temperature, but do not give alcoholic beverages. Do not try to give beverages to an unconscious person.

. After body temperature has increased, keep the person dry and wrapped in a warm blanket, including the head and neck.

. Get medical attention as soon as possible.

A person with severe hypothermia may be unconscious and may not seem to have a pulse or to be breathing. In this case, handle the victim gently, and get emergency assistance immediately. Even if the victim appears dead, CPR should be provided. CPR should continue while the victim is being warmed, until the victim responds or medical aid becomes available. In some cases, hypothermia victims who appear to be dead can be successfully resuscitated.

The best way to prevent hypothermia is to dress appropriately. You should wear a hat, scarf, or mask to cover face and mouth (in severe weather), have sleeves with snug wrist closures to prevent air infiltration; mittens (they’re better than gloves); waterproof or water-resistant boots and shell (outer clothing layer), and several layers of loose-fitting clothing, the CDC says. Inner layers of wool, silk, or polypropylene clothing will hold more body heat than cotton.

Try to stay dry. Wet clothing chills your body, and excess perspiration increases heat loss. If you find yourself getting hot, remove extra layers of clothing.

The CDC says eating “well-balanced meals will help you stay warmer. Do not drink alcoholic beverages – they cause your body to lose heat more rapidly. Instead, drink warm, sweet beverages such as hot chocolate to help maintain your body temperature. If you have any dietary restrictions, ask your doctor.”

And finally, should you get stranded in your vehicle, here’s what the CDC advises you to do:

. Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna as a signal to rescuers.

. Move anything you need from the trunk into the passenger area.

. Wrap your entire body, including your head, in extra clothing, blankets, or newspapers.

. Stay awake. You will be less vulnerable to cold-related health problems.

. Run the motor (and heater) for about 10 minutes per hour, opening one window slightly to let in air. Make sure that snow is not blocking the exhaust pipe – this will reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

. As you sit, keep moving your arms and legs to improve your circulation and to stay warmer.

. Do not eat snow because it will lower your body temperature.

To this advice I would add: When you’re out and about, let others know where you intend to be, when you expect to return, and who to notify if you do not return when expected. Know where you are at all times and how to notify authorities should you have an accident.

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.