Baby, It’s Cold Inside!

By Chief Jim Cole, MA, NREMT-P, WEMT

Growing up in the Midwest,  I had fond memories of canoeing and swimming in the warm lakes and rivers near Lake Erie.  Living on an island surrounded by cold salt water, things are a little different.  Hypothermia is when our body temperature drops below normal.  Even a slight drop in body temperature can cause life threatening complications. 

As boating and hiking season begins, this is when we see the greatest number of hypothermia patients.  As the air gets warmer in the day, we think less and less of the need for warm and insulating clothing.  Even a quick dip into our cold waters can produce profound hypothermia.  Twisting your ankle on a spring walk on a cool and moist trail could spell disaster without being prepared. Temperatures can quickly drop after the sun sets as well.

Here’s a quick checklist of items you may want to carry with you in a small backpack:

• Dress in layers made of wool or fleece. Wet cotton causes hypothermia.
• A warm hat, fleece zip up, and a waterproof shell.
• A small tarp or large trash bag as an emergency shelter.
• A lighter or matches to start a fire.
• Headlamp or flashlight.
• A knife or cutting instrument.
• Basic first aid supplies.
• A map of the area with clearly marked trailheads.
• High sugar snacks to help keep the fire burning within.

Let someone know where you are going and when you’ll be returning.  Set up a system of accountability.  That way, if you get in trouble on the water or the trail, people know where to look for you.  An ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.

 For further information, click here. Happy Trails!