38 What is the best defense against hypothermia?
Description
This article is from the Sea Kayaking FAQ, by Todd Leigh with numerous contributions by others.
38 What is the best defense against hypothermia?
Be prepared. Wear clothing that is appropriate for immersion in the
water and not the air temperature. Eat properly to keep your energy
levels up, get enough rest and drink enough water to maintain proper
hydration. Fatigue and dehydration help to induce hypothermia when
exposed to cold. Most kayakers that get hypothermia did not expect to
end up in the water. Be prepared for cold water immersion when
paddling on cold water.
Stay off the water if you are unsure the conditions may exceed your
abilities. This includes your ability to do a self rescue or assist
in the rescue of another paddler. Be aware of the weather forecast and
what the weather is currently doing. A weather forecast is not always
100% accurate.
Remember that extremely cold water can cause your hands to become
useless in a relatively short time (less than 20 minutes) even while
properly dressed. This will complicate operating a pump, pulling on a
spray skirt, firing off flares, radioing for help, etc. This may
result in your inability to signal for help, do a self rescue or
assist in your rescue or the rescue of others.
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