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Hypothermia | by Ed Pope
The most important thing to know about hypothermia is that it can sneak up on you. Hypothermia generally occurs when air temperatures are in the 30 to 50 degree range. People don't think it can happen, so they are not prepared and ignore the warning signs. For bicyclists, it can occur at even higher temperatures because of the wind chill effect. Boaters need to be especially concerned about hypothermia. If they should capsize and become stranded in the water, hypothermia may occur in a few hours even when water temperatures are in the 70’s.
Wind increases the rate of heat transfer from your body to the environment, which is why weather forecasters now give out wind chill numbers on cold days. Getting wet increases heat loss significantly, especially when combined with high wind. Clothing, especially cotton and down, loses its insulating value when it gets wet. Wool and most synthetic fibers are much less affected.
There are a number of things one should do to avoid hypothermia. Get good rain gear and take it with you on all long outdoor activities. The weather can change quickly in Indiana and a thunderstorm can bring colder temperatures, heavy rain and high winds even during the summer months. The weather can change even quicker farther north and at higher altitudes. Another way to protect yourself against heat loss is to make wise clothing choices. Jeans in particular should be avoided. Not only do they lose their insulating properties when they get wet, but they take forever to dry out. The body's heat output increases dramatically during exercise. Never push yourself to the point of exhaustion. If exercise is keeping hypothermia from setting in, and you are forced to stop, the implications are obvious. Always pace yourself and bring along at least some food, such as an energy bar, should you start running out of gas.
Know the early warning signs of hypothermia and keep an eye on your friends as well as yourself. The most prominent sign is involuntary shivering. Other signs include general confusion, fumbling around, stumbling and general exhaustion. Their judgement may be affected, so you may have to tell them it's time to head home and get inside. In any outdoor activity, you have to know when to call it off.
If someone has mild hypothermia, get them inside, replace any wet clothing with dry, and give them warm drinks. For more severe cases, you will need to remove the victim's clothes and put them in a sleeping bag. Then remove your clothing and get in there also. Their body can't produce enough heat, so you need to heat them with yours. If you have any chemical heat packs available, place these under the armpits or in the crotch area, where main arteries are near the skin surface.
I hope I haven’t scared anyone too much. Don't be afraid to hike or bike in cold weather, but be prepared and use good common sense. For more information on hypothermia, check out Mark's Hypothermia Page, located at http://www.diac.com/~zen/mark/canoe/hypo.html on the Internet.•
Ed Pope is an experienced cyclist and author of 25 Bicycle Tours in Southern Indiana. He is co-owner of Pete & Ed Books, which sells outdoor recreation books, maps, and videos on the internet at: http://www.a1.com/pebooks/
books.htm. and at Circle City Bicycles & Fitness, located at 5506 Madison Avenue. You can e-mail him at pebooks@indy.net. Comments, questions, and column ideas are always welcome.
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The most important thing to know about hypothermia is that it can sneak up on you. Hypothermia generally occurs when air temperatures are in the 30 to 50 degree range. People don't think it can happen, so they are not prepared and ignore the warning signs. For bicyclists, it can occur at even higher temperatures because of the wind chill effect. Boaters need to be especially concerned about hypothermia. If they should capsize and become stranded in the water, hypothermia may occur in a few hours even when water temperatures are in the 70’s.
Wind increases the rate of heat transfer from your body to the environment, which is why weather forecasters now give out wind chill numbers on cold days. Getting wet increases heat loss significantly, especially when combined with high wind. Clothing, especially cotton and down, loses its insulating value when it gets wet. Wool and most synthetic fibers are much less affected.
There are a number of things one should do to avoid hypothermia. Get good rain gear and take it with you on all long outdoor activities. The weather can change quickly in Indiana and a thunderstorm can bring colder temperatures, heavy rain and high winds even during the summer months. The weather can change even quicker farther north and at higher altitudes. Another way to protect yourself against heat loss is to make wise clothing choices. Jeans in particular should be avoided. Not only do they lose their insulating properties when they get wet, but they take forever to dry out. The body's heat output increases dramatically during exercise. Never push yourself to the point of exhaustion. If exercise is keeping hypothermia from setting in, and you are forced to stop, the implications are obvious. Always pace yourself and bring along at least some food, such as an energy bar, should you start running out of gas.
Know the early warning signs of hypothermia and keep an eye on your friends as well as yourself. The most prominent sign is involuntary shivering. Other signs include general confusion, fumbling around, stumbling and general exhaustion. Their judgement may be affected, so you may have to tell them it's time to head home and get inside. In any outdoor activity, you have to know when to call it off.
If someone has mild hypothermia, get them inside, replace any wet clothing with dry, and give them warm drinks. For more severe cases, you will need to remove the victim's clothes and put them in a sleeping bag. Then remove your clothing and get in there also. Their body can't produce enough heat, so you need to heat them with yours. If you have any chemical heat packs available, place these under the armpits or in the crotch area, where main arteries are near the skin surface.
I hope I haven’t scared anyone too much. Don't be afraid to hike or bike in cold weather, but be prepared and use good common sense. For more information on hypothermia, check out Mark's Hypothermia Page, located at http://www.diac.com/~zen/mark/canoe/hypo.html on the Internet.•
Ed Pope is an experienced cyclist and author of 25 Bicycle Tours in Southern Indiana. He is co-owner of Pete & Ed Books, which sells outdoor recreation books, maps, and videos on the internet at: http://www.a1.com/pebooks/
books.htm. and at Circle City Bicycles & Fitness, located at 5506 Madison Avenue. You can e-mail him at pebooks@indy.net. Comments, questions, and column ideas are always welcome.
Join the FREE Fitness Club Now for Weight loss, Strength and Fat Burning Workouts!
BACK TO ARTICLES