Because most consider the Gulf of Mexico to be warm waters, it is that ideology that makes it so dangerous. Yes, the water is much warmer than northern waters, but the human body reacts the same way to 58-60 degree water as it does to 45 degree water. You will first encounter a shock of cold water, causing you to start panting as you yell a few swear words between gasps, curl into a ball in an attempt to stay warm, shiver uncontrollably, your fingers and feet begin to lose mobility, and no buoyancy , you will not be able to keep your head above the waterline.

Cold water immersion can be survived if proper measures are taken. If you read my article “The Seven Steps to Survival” you will learn that recognition is the first step. If you don’t recognize that a ditching is possible, as some do, and if you don’t put flotation devices (life jackets and life rafts) on your aircraft, it’s probably one of the many sad statistics that says, “The occupants had no flotation devices.

While in the US Coast Guard stationed in Kodiak Alaska, I had the privilege of serving with Dr. Martin Neimeroff (Captain). Dr. Neimeroff was the Coast Guard’s leading expert on cold water immersion. Through his teachings, I learned that hypothermia (decreased core body temperature) has an adverse effect on the human body, even to small degrees. This human machine was designed to operate at a constant 98.6 degrees, and any variation up or down causes deleterious effects (hyperthermia/hypothermia).

The human body generates a small amount of heat through shivering (Stage One Hypothermia 98.6 F to 95.0 degrees). Feeling cold, chills, drowsiness, slurred speech, and disorientation are symptoms of stage one (mild hypothermia). Note: A person with “Stage One” hypothermia will appear to be intoxicated.

As you can see, even a 3.6 degree variation from your normal body temperature can cause adverse effects that can severely affect your ability to do the things necessary to survive.

Now we go one step further. Let’s say your body temperature drops below 95 degrees. He is now entering stage two hypothermia (95-91 degrees). Symptoms include decreased chills, decreased level of consciousness, and slower breathing rate. For the person in the water (PIW) without buoyancy, this is where you start to get into some serious trouble. The chills you experienced in stage one hypothermia have made you expend a lot of energy. Once the chills stop, your body will no longer have the ability to overheat. You will be very exhausted and unable to maneuver against the waves and swells that are coming. You will begin to gasp in mouthfuls of water and will not be able to stay above the surface, eventually drowning.

Now go down to the next level. Stage Three (Severe Hypothermia) 91-86 degrees. Symptoms include muscle stiffness and loss of consciousness. I hope I don’t have to explain what happens to a non-buoyant PIW when they lose consciousness.

The stages of hypothermia will depend on the time in the water. This will vary from person to person and a lot has to do with body mass. For example, a child would be quicker to succumb than a man. The thicker the body mass, the longer the survival time.

The chance of dying from hypothermia is slim for a PIW without flotation. His cause of death will most likely read; Drowning due to inability to keep head above water. He drowned, but the drowning was probably caused by losing control of his arms and legs or losing consciousness due to immersion in cold water.

Although the EXPECTED SURVIVAL TIME for a person in 75 degree water is from 3 hours to Indefinitely, the wording “Indefinitely” is based on the condition that you wear a life jacket and can keep your head above water even in the event of a loss. of knowledge (as all CG approved life jackets are designed to do).

The water temperature in the eastern Gulf of Mexico today (April) is averaging around 75 degrees. Depending on how long you’re in the water and what you’re wearing, you could pass out in three hours! From November to March, cooler water temperatures give you even less time to survive. That’s why it’s so important that you get out of that “heat stealing” water.

The main areas of heat loss are the head, neck, armpits, sides of the chest, and groin. When you submerge your body in water, you immediately begin to lose heat in these areas through: Convection (the movement of water “colder than you”) and Conduction (your skin touches something cooler than body temperature).

The human body’s response is to protect the central area of ​​the chest and heart. Blood cools too quickly (x25 in water), so the human body’s response is to shut off blood flow to the outer extremities, for example; your fingers and toes. Soon after, blood will continue to drain from the arms and legs and pool in the central area of ​​the body. In addition, blood flow to the brain will be restricted, leading to unusual behaviors such as muttering incoherent sentences, swimming, and stripping (removing clothing and floating), a common finding with many wet hypothermia victims.

Because the blood now pools in the central area of ​​the body, any sudden jolts, such as lifting the survivor upright, jumping out of a helicopter after the rescue, or even walking, can cause a sudden rush of this pooled blood. in your legacy This would make her heart beat even harder to retrieve the blood “now pooled in her legs”. Lack of blood and oxygen to the heart and brain = Cardiac arrest. Hypothermic patients will report that they can walk just fine, but should always be transferred in a horizontal position and remain horizontal until medical attention can be given. The pooled blood in the central area eventually has to flow back into the legs and arms. Ideally, you would want this return to occur slowly and under the care of a medical facility.

Immersion conduction in water occurs twenty-five times faster than air!

By assuming the Heat Loss Decreasing Position (HELP), you can protect vulnerable areas of your body from heat loss (head, neck, armpits, sides, and groin).

Note that this position can only be maintained with the aid of a flotation device (US Coast Guard approved life jacket). Without the float, you would have to straighten your legs and kick, exposing your groin area, and move your arms out to stabilize yourself, exposing your neck, armpits, and sides. By holding the HELP position, you can extend your survival time by hours.

Life rafts, are they necessary in Caribbean waters? I say absolutely!

In a real life scenario, the waves will hit you from all sides. You might be excited to see a rain cloud coming your way, but you might be surprised to find out that these bursts of rain actually pack quite a punch. Of course, a life raft ride through a squall would also be exciting, but at least you won’t be swallowing seawater during the trip.

By lifting your body out of the water, you increase your chances of survival by over 70 percent! By stepping into a canopied life raft, you not only get out of that heat-robbing water, but now you can protect yourself from sun, wind and rain, and you have the assurance that all of your crew members are together.

If your abandonment occurs late in the day, you have a good chance of spending the night. It’s eight to ten hours! A life raft can be your best friend, your lifesaver, in this situation. Getting on a life raft has increased your survival time when getting out of the water, increased the size of your target, and you should now have excess signaling gear that can make it easier for you to be found.

Even on land, the life raft acting as a tent will provide the same protection and signaling characteristics. Why wouldn’t you take a life raft?

Collection position (can only be achieved with float). Put injured people or children in the center. The idea is to “lock” the water in the center of the pool. This “enclosed” water will be warmed by the combined body heat of each survivor. No, it won’t reach 98.6 degrees, but it will be much warmer than the water on your butt. Remember the five main areas of body heat loss. You should still cross your legs, arms out to your sides, use the vest’s inflated bladder to block out the water and isolate the neck area, and if you’re lucky enough to wear a hat at this point, lower it a bit. tightest

The HUDDLE position not only provides shared warmth, but also helps overcome survival obstacles as a team while significantly increasing your target size for seekers. Use the Seven Step Plan for Survival.

Finders in your area? She back up and stand back to back while locking her arms. Now kick! This circular splash can be seen from two miles away by aerial searchers and from half a mile to a mile away by marine assets.