A Guide to Cold Water Survival
Av Chris Thornhill
Introduction
The purpose of this article is to examine the hazards of cold water exposure that may endanger your life, and to provide you with advice on how to prevent or minimise those dangers.
A thorough understanding of the information contained in this article may someday save your life.
The Second World War
During the Second World War the British Royal Navy lost about 45000 men at sea. Of these men 30000 were estimated to have died from drowning and hypothermia. Many of those drowned did so because of incapacitation due to cold.
Cold Water Immersion
Having spent 7 years in the British Army as an Infantry soldier and a trained paramedic, I have experienced more than my fair share of cold water situations, they were, to say the least, very uncomfortable and sometimes very painful. This was a part of the training as an infantry soldier to prepare for the time that it may actually happen, and also to show how quickly cold water immersion can affect your body. And what better way to find out than by reluctantly having to throw ones self fully clothed into icy cold water!
On one occasion this training took place in Canada at a place called Jasper in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. The water was only 1˚C due to it being water that had freshly melted and flowed down directly from the Columbian ice fields only a couple of kilometres away in British Columbia.
Being a young and sometimes ignorant soldier (I was 24 years old at the time) I assumed the reason for making us jump in to this freezing cold water was for their (‘their’, meaning the high ranking NCO’s & Officers) own amusement, as those who wouldn’t jump in of their own accord were thrown in!
Incidentally, I personally never saw the funny side of it at the time and neither did anyone else that was wet and very, very cold.
It is apparent now that I’m older and wiser, that everything we did, whether we liked it or not, was done for a reason.
Luckily for me this training came in very useful on the cold autumn day I fell into the sea off the coast of North Wales whilst fishing from the rocks. If it had not been for the training and knowledge I received in the Army, I may not be writing this article today.
There are some people who think that ‘It will never happen to me’ and this is the biggest mistake you could make. It makes no difference if you are a strong swimmer the cold water will quickly incapacitate you and your limbs will cease functioning. You will then drown!
It goes without saying, if you are fishing there is water in the close vicinity, so there is a possibility that you may fall in, it’s a fact! Being prepared or having some knowledge of what actions to take in the event that you do fall in to cold water, could mean the difference between life and death. 95% of fishing fatalities are due to falling in the water and water doesn’t care who it kills!
Fishing
Whilst out fishing, whether it be carp fishing, fly fishing, boat fishing, or any other method of fishing, there is a very real chance that you may fall in the water.
Here in Sweden when you are out fishing, you are normally miles from anywhere and I have been fishing continuously for weeks and never seen another person. I always take with me survival items in case of emergency no matter where I go, or for how long. They are always in my rucksack and stay there until a need arises for me to use them. ‘It's better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them’!
Know how your survival equipment works, the time of the emergency is NOT the time to learn.
Also it is in your own interest to teach anyone who accompanies you how it works, they may not know. It may be them that need to use it to save you.
Keep it in a place easily accessible and show them where it is, in an emergency you may not be able to tell or show them where it is.
I have been fishing now for nearly 30 years and I have lost count how many times I have fallen in.
The majority of the times I simply crawled back out again, but there was that one occasion in North Wales that I did actually fear for my life. The reason I feared for my life was for one reason and one reason only, The COLD!
You Can Survive
It is important to realise that you are not helpless to effect your own survival in cold water. Body heat loss is a gradual process and research shows that in calm water at 5˚C a normally dressed person has only a 50% chance of surviving one hour. Simple self help techniques can extend this time particularly if you are wearing a life jacket.
You can make the difference; this article is intended to show you how.
Your Body
An understanding of how your body reacts to cold air or water exposure, and knowing the steps you can take to help your body delay the damaging effects of cold stress will help you in your struggle to stay alive in the event of cold water immersion.
Imagine your body to consist of an inner core and an outer layer. Within the core, your body produces a great deal of heat as a result of normal bodily functions, such as physical exercise and digesting your food.
Nature requires that your body core be kept to an ideal temperature of 37˚C. A network of blood vessels running through the core and outer layer of your body picks up the heat produced by the ‘furnace’ within the core and distributes the heat throughout your body. Nature also gives you a very accurate system to regulate automatically the core temperature at 37˚C.
For Example:
If the temperature around you is high, as on a warm day or in a sauna, the blood vessels near the skin of your body will enlarge allowing more blood to flow to the outer layer and increase body heat loss. This will keep you comfortable and keep the core temperature from rising.
If the surroundings are cool your body will narrow the blood vessels in the outer layer and keep that valuable body heat from being lost too quickly.
This regulatory system strives to keep the core temperature of the body constant despite variations of temperature around you. The body can only do this within certain limits. There are levels of cold exposure when the body must have help in maintaining the core temperature at nature’s choice of 37˚C. You must give it that help by taking correct actions and wearing protective clothing.
Body Heat Loss and Insulation
The body gives off its heat to the surroundings in 4 different ways:
Conduction. (Värmledning)
Convection. (Konvektion)
Radiation. (Strålning)
Evaporation. (Avdunstning)
Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat by direct contact with cold water or other materials. Heat passes from your body which is at a relatively high temperature to a substance which is lower in temperature. Certain substances are better conductors of heat than others. Water conducts heat many times faster than air.
Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat by air or water currents. Moving air is far cooler to the body than still air. Cooling by wind is known as the ‘wind-chill’ effect or ‘wind-chill’ factor. Similarly, disturbed or flowing water around your body is more chilling than still water at the same temperature.
Radiation
Radiation is the transfer of heat by rays of energy without direct contact with other substances such as a radiator heating a room or the heat felt from a log fire.
Evaporation
Evaporation is the vaporisation or ‘drying up’ of liquid such as sweat or moisture from wet clothing. When the body gets too hot sweating will occur and the evaporation of moisture from clothing can rob you of valuable body heat on a cold day.
Clothing
In almost all parts of the world, man cannot survive without the aid of clothes. Clothes by themselves do not warm the body; the body is actually warmed by its own heat production.
The body heat warms the layer of air trapped between the skin and clothing. It is this layer of air that provides insulation. If this layer of air is lost then the insulation is diminished.
This layer of trapped air between skin and clothing may be disturbed by movement or displaced by water.
In either case valuable warm air is displaced and skin temperature will fall. Heat from the body core will then be used in an endeavour to maintain skin temperature. If heat loss from the skin remains unchecked the body core temperature will fall.
Hypothermia
The loss of body heat is one of the greatest hazards to the survival of a person if they fall in to cold water, whether it is a lake, river or the sea. The rate of body heat loss depends on water and air temperature, wind speed, the water conditions, the length of time spent in the water, the protective clothing worn, the body type of the person and the manner in which the person conducts him/herself.
An abnormally low body core temperature can be recognised by a variety of symptoms. Very early during exposure the body tries to combat the excessive heat loss by both narrowing the surface blood vessels (to reduce the heat transfer by blood to surface) and by shivering (to produce more body heat).
However if the exposure is severe, the body is unable to conserve or produce enough heat; body core temperature begins to fall. When body core temperature is below 35˚C the person is suffering from hypothermia.
By then, discomfort, tiredness, poor co-ordination, numbness, impaired speech, disorientation and mental confusion are well established.
As the internal temperature drops below 31˚C, unconsciousness may occur, shivering is replaced by muscle stiffness and the pupils of the eyes may be enlarged. The heartbeat becomes irregular and weak and the pulse is barely detectable.
Although death may occur at any stage of hypothermia, when a person’s temperature is below 30˚C it is very difficult to be sure whether he/she is alive or dead.
Death by hypothermia is then defined as a failure to revive on re-warming.
A person cannot be presumed dead until he/she is re-warmed and shows no bodily function.
Treatment for Hypothermia
The treatment for hypothermia will of course depend on both the condition of the survivor and the facilities available.
Generally speaking, survivors who are rational and capable of recounting their experiences although shivering dramatically, merely require removal of all wet clothing and replacement with dry clothing, blankets, sleeping bag or whatever is available at the time to warm the person.
If possible they should be taken from the water in the horizontal position and carried this way or else be returned to the horizontal position as quickly as possible and kept that way.
If you have a bivvy or tent put the victim in there immediately and if possible into a sleeping bag. Lay them on a bedchair if one is available or on an insulated sleeping mat on the floor, you can even use an unhooking mat, then zip closed the bivvy/tent doors.
Hot sweet drinks should be given but only if the victim is fully conscious and has cough and gag reflexes.
Alcohol and smoking as well as massaging or rubbing the cold skin should be avoided. However always bear in mind that even conscious victims can collapse and become unconscious shortly after rescue. They should therefore be kept resting horizontally with their legs slightly elevated. If there is a bedchair, lay the victim on it so that his/her feet are at where your head would normally be and raise the bedchair slightly so that the feet and legs are slightly elevated and watch them for at least 2 hours.
In more serious cases where the victim is not shivering and is semi-conscious, unconscious or apparently dead, immediate first aid must be administered to preserve life whilst awaiting professional medical help or advice.
This advice should be sought as soon as possible, preferably by phone or by sending someone for help. Do not leave the victim alone or unattended.
First Aid Treatment
The aim of First Aid is to preserve life and prevent the casualty from becoming worse.
Always assess the situation DO NOT BECOME A CASUALTY YOURSELF.
On rescue, always check the survivor’s breathing, carotid pulse (located either side of your throat) for one minute, and pupil reaction (the pupils of the eyes).
If the survivor is not breathing, make sure the airway is clear, tilt the head backwards, loosen any tight clothing and start Exhaled Air Resuscitation (EAR – mouth to mouth). If the heart appears to have stopped beating Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must be applied. However you must be certain that there is no pulse at all (remember that hypothermia slows and weakens the pulse greatly and it may be difficult to detect) and, once started it must be continued until the patient regains consciousness or until professional medical assistance arrives.
If the survivor is breathing but unconscious, lay him/her recovery position. This is necessary to ensure that the person’s breathing is not obstructed by his/her tongue, vomit, false teeth or any debris that may have entered the airway.
Avoid all manhandling which is not necessary even to check for any further serious injuries. Do not remove wet clothing or massage the skin.
Prevent further heat loss through evaporation and exposure to wind. Wrap the patient in anything you have at hand for example, dry clothing, blankets, sleeping bag, large plastic bag and move them immediately to an area sheltered from the wind, a bivvy, tent or shelter being the best place.
Advice on re-warming and decisions regarding further treatment should normally be given by a doctor. If no medical advice is immediately available, continue to apply the essential first aid procedures above.
In addition, if the rescued person is cold and appears dead or if he/she deteriorates and/or the pulse and breathing are lost, warming should be attempted immediately.
Medical authorities disagree on the best method of re-warming, but either an ‘active’ or ‘passive’ method is normally used.
Active method of warming: this is done preferably in a bath of warm water (38˚C to 40˚C – hand warm water) or alternatively using heated blankets or sheets about 45˚C but no hotter.
Passive method of warming: this is done by cutting the person’s clothing so that it can be removed with the minimum of disturbance. Then wrap the person in blankets to prevent further heat loss. Do not attempt to warm the person by vigorous actions (massaging or rubbing the skin). Apply heating pads or warm objects to the person’s head, neck, chest and groin. Never place these warm objects against the bare skin, as cold skin is easily burned. If active or passive methods of warming are not available then apply body warmth by direct body-to-body contact. In addition, wrap a blanket or sleeping bag around both the rescued person and the person or persons supplying the warmth. In all cases try to monitor the pulse and breathing.
Cold Injury
Another condition which may affect individuals exposed to cold environments is acute cold injury. Such injuries usually result from exposure to low temperatures, especially in damp conditions and when wind speeds are high. Cold injuries may be of a freezing or non-freezing variety.
Freezing Cold Injury (Frostbite) – (Förfrysnings skador)
Frostbite is the term given to the condition when tissue fluids freeze in areas of the body; the extremities, meaning the hands, face, ears and feet are particularly susceptible.
Cause:
Exposure, particularly of bare skin, to low temperature, especially when combined with movements of moist/humid air.
Diagnosis:
1. Extreme waxy pallor of the skin.
2. Initial tingling and stiffness in the extremities – it is difficult to wrinkle the face or wiggle affected toes or fingers.
3. Complete absence of sensation in the area affected.
4. Hardness due to freezing of the flesh.
Watch for early signs of frostbite in yourself and others.
Prevention:
If bare skin has to be exposed to the elements, the periods of exposure should be kept to a minimum and freezing winds be particularly avoided. Moderate exercise and massaging at an early stage will help prevent the onset of cold injury. DO NOT smoke; smoking reduces the blood supply to the hands and feet. Alcoholic drinks should not be consumed.
Treatment:
On detection of the above signs, immediate steps should be taken to re-warm the frozen area before permanent damage occurs. Get out of the wind. Re-warm the frozen areas by applying to a warmer part of the body, e.g. hands under armpits, cupped hands over cheeks, nose & ears etc. The frozen areas can also be re-warmed by placing them in water with a temperature not more than 40˚C. Once freezing has occurred, DO NOT rub, or massage, the affected areas.
Non-Freezing Cold Injury (Immersion Foot) Köldskador som inte är förfrysningar
Immersion foot is the term given to the condition when the temperature of local tissues in the limbs (usually the feet) remains subnormal but above freezing for a prolonged period. It is commonly encountered by soldiers whose feet have been wet and cold for several days. Usually the feet have been immobile, but this injury can occur in dry conditions. Other contributory factors are tight footwear and sitting still for prolonged periods of time.
Diagnosis:
Feet become white, numb, cold, and frequently are slightly swollen. When returned to the warmth, the feet become hot, red, swollen and usually painful.
Prevention:
Every effort must be made to keep your feet warm and dry. Shoe laces should be loosened; the feet should be raised and toe and ankle exercises encouraged several times a day. When possible shoes should be removed and feet kept warm. Spare clothing may be wrapped around the feet to keep them warm. Smoking should be discouraged.
Treatment:
Every effort should be made to avoid rapid re-warming of the affected limbs. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the skin or bursting blisters. Elevate the lower legs to reduce swelling and cover them lightly.
Remember, numb limbs do not feel heat or any other pain and are very easily burned. Do not massage affected limbs.
Survival Kit & Essential Items
Here is a list of the items that I always have with me when out fishing and also a description of why I carry it and what its intended use is. Most of it all fits in to a small tough waterproof sealable bag and is kept in my rucksack or tackle bag. This will cover most eventualities.
Always carry a spare set of clothes, sweatshirt, trousers (jogging bottoms), t-shirt, socks and a woolly hat.
· Lightweight tarpaulin 150cm x 180cm (presening).
· Gore-Tex bivvy bag (sleeping bag cover).
· Spare mobile phone with battery fully charged.
· Waterproof matches and lighter.
· A small torch with batteries (good quality)
· A sharp stainless steel knife and sharpening stone.
· A small piece of rubber 5cm x 5cm (from a bicycle inner tube).
· Water Purification tablets (for treating water to make it drinkable).
· A teabag, 2 sachets of sugar, a stock cube & sachets of salt.
· Small Tea light candles.
· A small compass.
· Aluminium foil (for cooking food and boiling water).
· 5 meters of thin strong cord (it has a million and one uses).
· A needle, pins & some strong cotton.
· A small pencil.
· First Aid kit.
Contents: Sterile bandage (small) x 2, Sterile bandage (large).
Crepe bandages (elasticated) x 2.
Sterile Plasters in various sizes.
Antiseptic wipes.
Triangular bandages x 2.
Roll of surgical tape.
Plastic finger stalls.
Burns dressings.
A pair of sharp scissors.
Paracetamol or aspirin (headache tablets).
(Normally I would also carry some fishing line, hooks in various sizes, split shot, small floats and ledger weights, but in my ‘fishing survival kit’ I don’t think its necessary as I would already be fishing)
In today’s world most people own a mobile phone, this is an essential piece of kit and will more than likely be the only means available of getting help. If you are out fishing for any length of time as most carp fishermen are, one mobile phone battery will not be enough to last, if:
1. You use it regularly, or,
2. Keep it turned on.
If you don’t have a spare battery, turn the phone off during the night to conserve the battery and if there isn’t much power left, turn it off and leave it turned off so you have power left to call the emergency services in the event of an emergency.
I personally always take 2 mobile phones with me, my everyday phone and my emergency phone. As well as spare batteries for both phones I always have a means of charging them which is usually a 12 volt sealed battery (fully charged & tested) and a car charger. The reason I take 2 phones is because I usually carry my phone in my pocket, as most of you probably do as well.
If your phone is in your pocket and you do fall in the water it’s going to get wet and therefore useless. If you don’t have another phone you have just reduced your chances of survival. If you have a spare phone, that then becomes your lifeline. It is best to keep your phone in your bivvy/tent and not in your pocket (if you only have one), where it is going to stay dry and functional. It does not need to be a state of the art, all singing, all dancing phone, an old phone will do just as long as it works and can call the emergency services (which is free).
Remember this is your lifeline in an emergency.
If you do need to call the emergency services ensure that you know where you are, the name of the lake or river (or sea) you are fishing and in what area.
The reason for this is simple, but how many of you have gone fishing with someone else who has taken you to a secret lake or river that you have never fished before. Sometimes you may not even be told the name of the lake let alone know where you are. If they are reluctant to tell you where you are, explain the reason why you must know, they need not divulge everything but enough so you at least know where you are.
If the other person becomes an unconscious casualty it will be very difficult to direct the emergency services to your location.
ALWAYS make sure you know where you are! It’s common sense really.
Another item that I always take is a lightweight tarpaulin (presening) which has a lot of uses should I need it.
The first, and probably the main use, is to protect you from the elements but it can be used for a number of things. This is an invaluable piece of kit and is very cheap to buy. They cost between 8kr & 20kr (70p & £1.60) depending on where you buy them.
Jula, Rusta, & Clas Ohlson are just a few places that you can buy them.
They come in a ‘carp fishing friendly’ Dark Green colour and in various sizes. The smallest size you can buy is 150cm x 180cm (5ft x 6ft, which is the size I use) and it has 8 brass eyelets spaced evenly around the reinforced edges for ‘pegging down’ points.
It also weighs next to nothing (500g – 1lb) and folds up small enough that you could get it in your pocket.
It is also 100% water and wind proof.
Here are some other uses:
A bivouac (shelter)
A weigh sling.
A groundsheet.
A rain cover for your kit that is not kept in the bivvy.
Extreme circumstances:
A stretcher to transport a casualty.
A means of collecting fresh water.
A poncho (by cutting a hole in the centre for your head to fit through).
A floatation pack (to transport equipment across water without it sinking and getting wet).
A raft sail.
Some of you may be bewildered at some of the items in my kit but most of the items seem pretty self explanatory.
You may well ask yourself “where am I going to get waterproof matches from?”
In fact you can make them yourself.
The most important point is to buy the matches that will strike and light on any surface, safety matches should not be used.
To waterproof them, just dip the match heads in melted candle wax. The head gets coated in wax, and then hardens forming a waterproof casing around the match head. Even if your matches get wet they will still ignite when you strike them. In addition to this, carry a lighter as well and wrap it in Clingfilm to keep it dry.
Always carry a small torch in your kit as well, preferably a mini-maglite or another quality brand. Place the batteries in it the wrong way round, this prevents the torch from turning on accidentally and draining the batteries. It is also worth placing a piece of paper between the batteries to prevent any loss of battery life while in storage.
The piece of rubber is a very important bit of survival kit, this is for lighting fires as it will burn even when it is wet and it will burn long enough to start a fire with damp wood.
The compass is obviously for navigation, but it is useless if you don’t know how to use it correctly. Don’t use one of those ‘Rambo’ style compasses that come built in to the ‘Rambo survival knife’ they are absolute crap! Buy a quality compass, Silva make very good compasses if not the best. Remember a compass will give false readings if it has an air bubble in it (like the ones that come free in a Rambo knife compass) or is used near metal objects (like a Rambo knife)!!!
It may be worth while printing out this article and storing it in your fishing bag so that you can refer to it in the event of an emergency while you are fishing.
It could save your, or someone else’s life.
And Remember……………………………….
It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!!!
Chris Thornhill
chris@screamingdelkims.se
Av Chris Thornhill
Introduction
The purpose of this article is to examine the hazards of cold water exposure that may endanger your life, and to provide you with advice on how to prevent or minimise those dangers.
A thorough understanding of the information contained in this article may someday save your life.
The Second World War
During the Second World War the British Royal Navy lost about 45000 men at sea. Of these men 30000 were estimated to have died from drowning and hypothermia. Many of those drowned did so because of incapacitation due to cold.
Cold Water Immersion
Having spent 7 years in the British Army as an Infantry soldier and a trained paramedic, I have experienced more than my fair share of cold water situations, they were, to say the least, very uncomfortable and sometimes very painful. This was a part of the training as an infantry soldier to prepare for the time that it may actually happen, and also to show how quickly cold water immersion can affect your body. And what better way to find out than by reluctantly having to throw ones self fully clothed into icy cold water!
On one occasion this training took place in Canada at a place called Jasper in the middle of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta. The water was only 1˚C due to it being water that had freshly melted and flowed down directly from the Columbian ice fields only a couple of kilometres away in British Columbia.
Being a young and sometimes ignorant soldier (I was 24 years old at the time) I assumed the reason for making us jump in to this freezing cold water was for their (‘their’, meaning the high ranking NCO’s & Officers) own amusement, as those who wouldn’t jump in of their own accord were thrown in!
Incidentally, I personally never saw the funny side of it at the time and neither did anyone else that was wet and very, very cold.
It is apparent now that I’m older and wiser, that everything we did, whether we liked it or not, was done for a reason.
Luckily for me this training came in very useful on the cold autumn day I fell into the sea off the coast of North Wales whilst fishing from the rocks. If it had not been for the training and knowledge I received in the Army, I may not be writing this article today.
There are some people who think that ‘It will never happen to me’ and this is the biggest mistake you could make. It makes no difference if you are a strong swimmer the cold water will quickly incapacitate you and your limbs will cease functioning. You will then drown!
It goes without saying, if you are fishing there is water in the close vicinity, so there is a possibility that you may fall in, it’s a fact! Being prepared or having some knowledge of what actions to take in the event that you do fall in to cold water, could mean the difference between life and death. 95% of fishing fatalities are due to falling in the water and water doesn’t care who it kills!
Fishing
Whilst out fishing, whether it be carp fishing, fly fishing, boat fishing, or any other method of fishing, there is a very real chance that you may fall in the water.
Here in Sweden when you are out fishing, you are normally miles from anywhere and I have been fishing continuously for weeks and never seen another person. I always take with me survival items in case of emergency no matter where I go, or for how long. They are always in my rucksack and stay there until a need arises for me to use them. ‘It's better to have them and not need them, than need them and not have them’!
Know how your survival equipment works, the time of the emergency is NOT the time to learn.
Also it is in your own interest to teach anyone who accompanies you how it works, they may not know. It may be them that need to use it to save you.
Keep it in a place easily accessible and show them where it is, in an emergency you may not be able to tell or show them where it is.
I have been fishing now for nearly 30 years and I have lost count how many times I have fallen in.
The majority of the times I simply crawled back out again, but there was that one occasion in North Wales that I did actually fear for my life. The reason I feared for my life was for one reason and one reason only, The COLD!
You Can Survive
It is important to realise that you are not helpless to effect your own survival in cold water. Body heat loss is a gradual process and research shows that in calm water at 5˚C a normally dressed person has only a 50% chance of surviving one hour. Simple self help techniques can extend this time particularly if you are wearing a life jacket.
You can make the difference; this article is intended to show you how.
Your Body
An understanding of how your body reacts to cold air or water exposure, and knowing the steps you can take to help your body delay the damaging effects of cold stress will help you in your struggle to stay alive in the event of cold water immersion.
Imagine your body to consist of an inner core and an outer layer. Within the core, your body produces a great deal of heat as a result of normal bodily functions, such as physical exercise and digesting your food.
Nature requires that your body core be kept to an ideal temperature of 37˚C. A network of blood vessels running through the core and outer layer of your body picks up the heat produced by the ‘furnace’ within the core and distributes the heat throughout your body. Nature also gives you a very accurate system to regulate automatically the core temperature at 37˚C.
For Example:
If the temperature around you is high, as on a warm day or in a sauna, the blood vessels near the skin of your body will enlarge allowing more blood to flow to the outer layer and increase body heat loss. This will keep you comfortable and keep the core temperature from rising.
If the surroundings are cool your body will narrow the blood vessels in the outer layer and keep that valuable body heat from being lost too quickly.
This regulatory system strives to keep the core temperature of the body constant despite variations of temperature around you. The body can only do this within certain limits. There are levels of cold exposure when the body must have help in maintaining the core temperature at nature’s choice of 37˚C. You must give it that help by taking correct actions and wearing protective clothing.
Body Heat Loss and Insulation
The body gives off its heat to the surroundings in 4 different ways:
Conduction. (Värmledning)
Convection. (Konvektion)
Radiation. (Strålning)
Evaporation. (Avdunstning)
Conduction
Conduction is the transfer of heat by direct contact with cold water or other materials. Heat passes from your body which is at a relatively high temperature to a substance which is lower in temperature. Certain substances are better conductors of heat than others. Water conducts heat many times faster than air.
Convection
Convection is the transfer of heat by air or water currents. Moving air is far cooler to the body than still air. Cooling by wind is known as the ‘wind-chill’ effect or ‘wind-chill’ factor. Similarly, disturbed or flowing water around your body is more chilling than still water at the same temperature.
Radiation
Radiation is the transfer of heat by rays of energy without direct contact with other substances such as a radiator heating a room or the heat felt from a log fire.
Evaporation
Evaporation is the vaporisation or ‘drying up’ of liquid such as sweat or moisture from wet clothing. When the body gets too hot sweating will occur and the evaporation of moisture from clothing can rob you of valuable body heat on a cold day.
Clothing
In almost all parts of the world, man cannot survive without the aid of clothes. Clothes by themselves do not warm the body; the body is actually warmed by its own heat production.
The body heat warms the layer of air trapped between the skin and clothing. It is this layer of air that provides insulation. If this layer of air is lost then the insulation is diminished.
This layer of trapped air between skin and clothing may be disturbed by movement or displaced by water.
In either case valuable warm air is displaced and skin temperature will fall. Heat from the body core will then be used in an endeavour to maintain skin temperature. If heat loss from the skin remains unchecked the body core temperature will fall.
Hypothermia
The loss of body heat is one of the greatest hazards to the survival of a person if they fall in to cold water, whether it is a lake, river or the sea. The rate of body heat loss depends on water and air temperature, wind speed, the water conditions, the length of time spent in the water, the protective clothing worn, the body type of the person and the manner in which the person conducts him/herself.
An abnormally low body core temperature can be recognised by a variety of symptoms. Very early during exposure the body tries to combat the excessive heat loss by both narrowing the surface blood vessels (to reduce the heat transfer by blood to surface) and by shivering (to produce more body heat).
However if the exposure is severe, the body is unable to conserve or produce enough heat; body core temperature begins to fall. When body core temperature is below 35˚C the person is suffering from hypothermia.
By then, discomfort, tiredness, poor co-ordination, numbness, impaired speech, disorientation and mental confusion are well established.
As the internal temperature drops below 31˚C, unconsciousness may occur, shivering is replaced by muscle stiffness and the pupils of the eyes may be enlarged. The heartbeat becomes irregular and weak and the pulse is barely detectable.
Although death may occur at any stage of hypothermia, when a person’s temperature is below 30˚C it is very difficult to be sure whether he/she is alive or dead.
Death by hypothermia is then defined as a failure to revive on re-warming.
A person cannot be presumed dead until he/she is re-warmed and shows no bodily function.
Treatment for Hypothermia
The treatment for hypothermia will of course depend on both the condition of the survivor and the facilities available.
Generally speaking, survivors who are rational and capable of recounting their experiences although shivering dramatically, merely require removal of all wet clothing and replacement with dry clothing, blankets, sleeping bag or whatever is available at the time to warm the person.
If possible they should be taken from the water in the horizontal position and carried this way or else be returned to the horizontal position as quickly as possible and kept that way.
If you have a bivvy or tent put the victim in there immediately and if possible into a sleeping bag. Lay them on a bedchair if one is available or on an insulated sleeping mat on the floor, you can even use an unhooking mat, then zip closed the bivvy/tent doors.
Hot sweet drinks should be given but only if the victim is fully conscious and has cough and gag reflexes.
Alcohol and smoking as well as massaging or rubbing the cold skin should be avoided. However always bear in mind that even conscious victims can collapse and become unconscious shortly after rescue. They should therefore be kept resting horizontally with their legs slightly elevated. If there is a bedchair, lay the victim on it so that his/her feet are at where your head would normally be and raise the bedchair slightly so that the feet and legs are slightly elevated and watch them for at least 2 hours.
In more serious cases where the victim is not shivering and is semi-conscious, unconscious or apparently dead, immediate first aid must be administered to preserve life whilst awaiting professional medical help or advice.
This advice should be sought as soon as possible, preferably by phone or by sending someone for help. Do not leave the victim alone or unattended.
First Aid Treatment
The aim of First Aid is to preserve life and prevent the casualty from becoming worse.
Always assess the situation DO NOT BECOME A CASUALTY YOURSELF.
On rescue, always check the survivor’s breathing, carotid pulse (located either side of your throat) for one minute, and pupil reaction (the pupils of the eyes).
If the survivor is not breathing, make sure the airway is clear, tilt the head backwards, loosen any tight clothing and start Exhaled Air Resuscitation (EAR – mouth to mouth). If the heart appears to have stopped beating Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must be applied. However you must be certain that there is no pulse at all (remember that hypothermia slows and weakens the pulse greatly and it may be difficult to detect) and, once started it must be continued until the patient regains consciousness or until professional medical assistance arrives.
If the survivor is breathing but unconscious, lay him/her recovery position. This is necessary to ensure that the person’s breathing is not obstructed by his/her tongue, vomit, false teeth or any debris that may have entered the airway.
Avoid all manhandling which is not necessary even to check for any further serious injuries. Do not remove wet clothing or massage the skin.
Prevent further heat loss through evaporation and exposure to wind. Wrap the patient in anything you have at hand for example, dry clothing, blankets, sleeping bag, large plastic bag and move them immediately to an area sheltered from the wind, a bivvy, tent or shelter being the best place.
Advice on re-warming and decisions regarding further treatment should normally be given by a doctor. If no medical advice is immediately available, continue to apply the essential first aid procedures above.
In addition, if the rescued person is cold and appears dead or if he/she deteriorates and/or the pulse and breathing are lost, warming should be attempted immediately.
Medical authorities disagree on the best method of re-warming, but either an ‘active’ or ‘passive’ method is normally used.
Active method of warming: this is done preferably in a bath of warm water (38˚C to 40˚C – hand warm water) or alternatively using heated blankets or sheets about 45˚C but no hotter.
Passive method of warming: this is done by cutting the person’s clothing so that it can be removed with the minimum of disturbance. Then wrap the person in blankets to prevent further heat loss. Do not attempt to warm the person by vigorous actions (massaging or rubbing the skin). Apply heating pads or warm objects to the person’s head, neck, chest and groin. Never place these warm objects against the bare skin, as cold skin is easily burned. If active or passive methods of warming are not available then apply body warmth by direct body-to-body contact. In addition, wrap a blanket or sleeping bag around both the rescued person and the person or persons supplying the warmth. In all cases try to monitor the pulse and breathing.
Cold Injury
Another condition which may affect individuals exposed to cold environments is acute cold injury. Such injuries usually result from exposure to low temperatures, especially in damp conditions and when wind speeds are high. Cold injuries may be of a freezing or non-freezing variety.
Freezing Cold Injury (Frostbite) – (Förfrysnings skador)
Frostbite is the term given to the condition when tissue fluids freeze in areas of the body; the extremities, meaning the hands, face, ears and feet are particularly susceptible.
Cause:
Exposure, particularly of bare skin, to low temperature, especially when combined with movements of moist/humid air.
Diagnosis:
1. Extreme waxy pallor of the skin.
2. Initial tingling and stiffness in the extremities – it is difficult to wrinkle the face or wiggle affected toes or fingers.
3. Complete absence of sensation in the area affected.
4. Hardness due to freezing of the flesh.
Watch for early signs of frostbite in yourself and others.
Prevention:
If bare skin has to be exposed to the elements, the periods of exposure should be kept to a minimum and freezing winds be particularly avoided. Moderate exercise and massaging at an early stage will help prevent the onset of cold injury. DO NOT smoke; smoking reduces the blood supply to the hands and feet. Alcoholic drinks should not be consumed.
Treatment:
On detection of the above signs, immediate steps should be taken to re-warm the frozen area before permanent damage occurs. Get out of the wind. Re-warm the frozen areas by applying to a warmer part of the body, e.g. hands under armpits, cupped hands over cheeks, nose & ears etc. The frozen areas can also be re-warmed by placing them in water with a temperature not more than 40˚C. Once freezing has occurred, DO NOT rub, or massage, the affected areas.
Non-Freezing Cold Injury (Immersion Foot) Köldskador som inte är förfrysningar
Immersion foot is the term given to the condition when the temperature of local tissues in the limbs (usually the feet) remains subnormal but above freezing for a prolonged period. It is commonly encountered by soldiers whose feet have been wet and cold for several days. Usually the feet have been immobile, but this injury can occur in dry conditions. Other contributory factors are tight footwear and sitting still for prolonged periods of time.
Diagnosis:
Feet become white, numb, cold, and frequently are slightly swollen. When returned to the warmth, the feet become hot, red, swollen and usually painful.
Prevention:
Every effort must be made to keep your feet warm and dry. Shoe laces should be loosened; the feet should be raised and toe and ankle exercises encouraged several times a day. When possible shoes should be removed and feet kept warm. Spare clothing may be wrapped around the feet to keep them warm. Smoking should be discouraged.
Treatment:
Every effort should be made to avoid rapid re-warming of the affected limbs. Care should be taken to avoid damaging the skin or bursting blisters. Elevate the lower legs to reduce swelling and cover them lightly.
Remember, numb limbs do not feel heat or any other pain and are very easily burned. Do not massage affected limbs.
Survival Kit & Essential Items
Here is a list of the items that I always have with me when out fishing and also a description of why I carry it and what its intended use is. Most of it all fits in to a small tough waterproof sealable bag and is kept in my rucksack or tackle bag. This will cover most eventualities.
Always carry a spare set of clothes, sweatshirt, trousers (jogging bottoms), t-shirt, socks and a woolly hat.
· Lightweight tarpaulin 150cm x 180cm (presening).
· Gore-Tex bivvy bag (sleeping bag cover).
· Spare mobile phone with battery fully charged.
· Waterproof matches and lighter.
· A small torch with batteries (good quality)
· A sharp stainless steel knife and sharpening stone.
· A small piece of rubber 5cm x 5cm (from a bicycle inner tube).
· Water Purification tablets (for treating water to make it drinkable).
· A teabag, 2 sachets of sugar, a stock cube & sachets of salt.
· Small Tea light candles.
· A small compass.
· Aluminium foil (for cooking food and boiling water).
· 5 meters of thin strong cord (it has a million and one uses).
· A needle, pins & some strong cotton.
· A small pencil.
· First Aid kit.
Contents: Sterile bandage (small) x 2, Sterile bandage (large).
Crepe bandages (elasticated) x 2.
Sterile Plasters in various sizes.
Antiseptic wipes.
Triangular bandages x 2.
Roll of surgical tape.
Plastic finger stalls.
Burns dressings.
A pair of sharp scissors.
Paracetamol or aspirin (headache tablets).
(Normally I would also carry some fishing line, hooks in various sizes, split shot, small floats and ledger weights, but in my ‘fishing survival kit’ I don’t think its necessary as I would already be fishing)
In today’s world most people own a mobile phone, this is an essential piece of kit and will more than likely be the only means available of getting help. If you are out fishing for any length of time as most carp fishermen are, one mobile phone battery will not be enough to last, if:
1. You use it regularly, or,
2. Keep it turned on.
If you don’t have a spare battery, turn the phone off during the night to conserve the battery and if there isn’t much power left, turn it off and leave it turned off so you have power left to call the emergency services in the event of an emergency.
I personally always take 2 mobile phones with me, my everyday phone and my emergency phone. As well as spare batteries for both phones I always have a means of charging them which is usually a 12 volt sealed battery (fully charged & tested) and a car charger. The reason I take 2 phones is because I usually carry my phone in my pocket, as most of you probably do as well.
If your phone is in your pocket and you do fall in the water it’s going to get wet and therefore useless. If you don’t have another phone you have just reduced your chances of survival. If you have a spare phone, that then becomes your lifeline. It is best to keep your phone in your bivvy/tent and not in your pocket (if you only have one), where it is going to stay dry and functional. It does not need to be a state of the art, all singing, all dancing phone, an old phone will do just as long as it works and can call the emergency services (which is free).
Remember this is your lifeline in an emergency.
If you do need to call the emergency services ensure that you know where you are, the name of the lake or river (or sea) you are fishing and in what area.
The reason for this is simple, but how many of you have gone fishing with someone else who has taken you to a secret lake or river that you have never fished before. Sometimes you may not even be told the name of the lake let alone know where you are. If they are reluctant to tell you where you are, explain the reason why you must know, they need not divulge everything but enough so you at least know where you are.
If the other person becomes an unconscious casualty it will be very difficult to direct the emergency services to your location.
ALWAYS make sure you know where you are! It’s common sense really.
Another item that I always take is a lightweight tarpaulin (presening) which has a lot of uses should I need it.
The first, and probably the main use, is to protect you from the elements but it can be used for a number of things. This is an invaluable piece of kit and is very cheap to buy. They cost between 8kr & 20kr (70p & £1.60) depending on where you buy them.
Jula, Rusta, & Clas Ohlson are just a few places that you can buy them.
They come in a ‘carp fishing friendly’ Dark Green colour and in various sizes. The smallest size you can buy is 150cm x 180cm (5ft x 6ft, which is the size I use) and it has 8 brass eyelets spaced evenly around the reinforced edges for ‘pegging down’ points.
It also weighs next to nothing (500g – 1lb) and folds up small enough that you could get it in your pocket.
It is also 100% water and wind proof.
Here are some other uses:
A bivouac (shelter)
A weigh sling.
A groundsheet.
A rain cover for your kit that is not kept in the bivvy.
Extreme circumstances:
A stretcher to transport a casualty.
A means of collecting fresh water.
A poncho (by cutting a hole in the centre for your head to fit through).
A floatation pack (to transport equipment across water without it sinking and getting wet).
A raft sail.
Some of you may be bewildered at some of the items in my kit but most of the items seem pretty self explanatory.
You may well ask yourself “where am I going to get waterproof matches from?”
In fact you can make them yourself.
The most important point is to buy the matches that will strike and light on any surface, safety matches should not be used.
To waterproof them, just dip the match heads in melted candle wax. The head gets coated in wax, and then hardens forming a waterproof casing around the match head. Even if your matches get wet they will still ignite when you strike them. In addition to this, carry a lighter as well and wrap it in Clingfilm to keep it dry.
Always carry a small torch in your kit as well, preferably a mini-maglite or another quality brand. Place the batteries in it the wrong way round, this prevents the torch from turning on accidentally and draining the batteries. It is also worth placing a piece of paper between the batteries to prevent any loss of battery life while in storage.
The piece of rubber is a very important bit of survival kit, this is for lighting fires as it will burn even when it is wet and it will burn long enough to start a fire with damp wood.
The compass is obviously for navigation, but it is useless if you don’t know how to use it correctly. Don’t use one of those ‘Rambo’ style compasses that come built in to the ‘Rambo survival knife’ they are absolute crap! Buy a quality compass, Silva make very good compasses if not the best. Remember a compass will give false readings if it has an air bubble in it (like the ones that come free in a Rambo knife compass) or is used near metal objects (like a Rambo knife)!!!
It may be worth while printing out this article and storing it in your fishing bag so that you can refer to it in the event of an emergency while you are fishing.
It could save your, or someone else’s life.
And Remember……………………………….
It’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!!!
Chris Thornhill
chris@screamingdelkims.se
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