Long before I'd ever heard of hypothermia I had a serious brush with it.
When I was in the Arctic , a buddy and I decided we would spend some time on the weekend goose hunting. It was late September so the nights could get very cold. The place we chose to hunt was about 90 miles away and of course, we had to travel by boat on the river. We had a tent, sleeping bags, stove and food.
We woke up the next morning and could hear what we thought was rain on the tent. When we looked out the tent it had snowed. We decided to quickly break camp and head for home. The way home was with the river current., but the wind was against us. When wind blows against a current a placid stream can get rough.
We traveled hour after hour. It was slow. Our boat was open and we were exposed to the wind. My buddy crouched down in the front of the boat out of the wind.
When we arrived home I was extremely stiff and had difficulty getting out of the boat. I took a few things up to my apartment but the walk was difficult. My whole body was shaking with shivering. I thought once I got in the warm apartment I would warm up. I couldn't stop shaking. I was really cold. I decided to get in a hot tub. I remember still shivering in the hot bath water. Slowly I warmed up and the shaking stopped.
When I look back this is one time when I used up one of my nine lives.
Since I've been involved in outdoor education , I've learned about hypothermia. I now recognize what a dangerous situation I was in.
Yipes! That coulda been serious! They say if when you quite shakig, you're in trouble...I've been freezing cold, but not dangerously.
ReplyDeleteIt didn't click at that time because very little was know about hypothermia.
DeleteGlad you were okay at last. I've been that cold, it's awful! Hypothermia is definitely something that can kill you.
ReplyDeleteToday we have much better knowledge and are aware of risks and dangers.
Deleteoh, dear! you sure were! glad you lived to tell this tale!
ReplyDeleteIt could have been much worse.
DeleteWow, what an experience! I know that hypothermia can be very dangerous.
ReplyDeleteNow we are well aware of signs and symptoms so things like this shouldn't happen.
Deletetough to have the wind against you, it can really take some time to thaw
ReplyDeleteI was well dressed but it cut right through. I'd probably got cold in the tent and never warmed up.
DeleteWow.. scary. Maybe it's a good thing that you didn't quite realize it at the time.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Hilary! You just kept going! You are a hoot, Red!
DeleteI was 24 at the time and young men think they are invincible.
DeleteAye, old man. Get in a cold tub first and gradually trickle the hot tap. You were lucky. Expanding surface blood vessels is the last thing you need. Core temperature is what matters.
ReplyDeleteYou've got it right about cold first. at that time I'd never heard of hypothermia. (Sept , 1964)
DeleteScary! I once drank too much brandy and went swimming in an unseated pool in Turkey and when I got out I couldn't stop shivering for hours. And 'm practically never cold.
ReplyDeleteYou've got my curiosity. I've never hear of an unseated pool?? Okay, Okay I get typo!
DeleteYou are lucky Red, my goodness ninety miles in the cold and the wind...what an adventure. I am glad it turned out okay but it is really scary:(
ReplyDeleteWe only had about 12 miles of road. with a huge river system we did a lot of good boating.
DeleteWow, that was a dangerous situation indeed! You are so lucky!
ReplyDeleteIt was more good luck than management. I did have good clothing.
DeleteIt sounds scary. For the sake of your readers, thank goodness you had another eight lives left.
ReplyDeleteGlad you managed to get warm again, when you are young you are not aware of the dangers you can get in.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you came out of this well Red. Be careful with your other 8 lives ok? ;-)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your Sunday ;-)
Gert Jan Hermus
dzjiedzjee.blogspot.com
I was going to say what Adrian said. Friends not too many years ago were rescued from the sea and the rescuers didn't know that you should warm gradually with nearly serious results.
ReplyDelete