Hypothermia
What is Hypothermia?
Exposure to cold weather, cold winds and immersion in cold water is especially dangerous as loss of body heat is 25 times quicker than in cold air! How fast you become hypo-thermic depends on the environment, your personality and physical condition. Hypothermia will cause your body temperature to drop below normal and your vital organs to shut down.
Unless you have protective clothing you may not be aware that you are experiencing hypothermia as it occurs gradually. You may start to feel cold or begin to shiver as your bodies natural defenses swing into action to prevent you losing any more heat. The blood flow to the skin will be restricted and hormones are released to generate heat as your body attempts to maintain your major organs above 95 F (35 C)
How to recognize Hypothermia?
The first signs are usually feeling cold and shivering, a lack of energy and pale cold skin. Ignoring these first signs will often lead to loss of the ability to think clearly and inattention to your surroundings. Exhaustion is characterized by a loss of judgement and feeling confused, to uncontrolled even violent shivering, muscles stiffening and losing control of your hands and limbs and in severe cases you may even stop shivering and eventually become unconscious!
Of course everyone reacts differently to cold water in the same conditions-children lose body heat faster than adults, body heat is lost quicker by thin people than by those who carry more weight in terms of fat content! Protecting your body from the effects of hypothermia with a wet suit suitable for the season and water temperatures is not only sensible but practical too!
Why suffer from the effects of cold waters (And minor cuts and grazes from rocks and other underwater debris) when with the modern materials available that are used in wet suit construction you can be fashionable too!
Remember Prevention is Better than Cure!
