http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfo...is-not-necessarily-a-death-sentence-1.3124585
Why a plunge in the ocean is not necessarily a death sentence
CBC News Posted: Jun 24, 2015 6:00 AM NT| Last Updated: Jun 24, 2015 6:00 AM NT
The fishing community of Southern Harbour was rocked by the discovery of the bodies of three men who had sailed out of the port last week. (CBC)
External Links
■Beyond Cold Water Boot Camp http://beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
A university professor who specializes in severe weather safety says the key to surviving a plunge in icy water is to keep your head above water and to wear a personal floatation device.
Many people who work on the water feel a PFD is unnecessary because the chances of surviving any longer than a few minutes in the cold Atlantic ocean are remote.
■Tragedy in Placentia Bay: Bodies of 3 missing crab fishermen recovered
But that's a myth Gordon Giesbrecht desperately wants to debunk.
Giesbrecht says it's possible for a person wearing just one layer of ordinary clothing to survive for up to two hours in ice-cold water.
The key, he says, is to keep your head above water — and the best way to do that is by wearing a floatation device.
"This all boils down to one major message: any time you get in a boat you should have a life-jacket on," he said.
Giesbrecht is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation at the University of Manitoba, but he is better known by his nickname, Professor Popsicle.
Debunking long-held myths
The long-running debate over PFDs and survival suits reignited in Newfoundland and Labrador following a tragic incident in Placentia Bay last week that resulted in the death of three fishermen.
Giesbrecht has long studied the affects of cold water on the human body, and says there's a misperception that most people immersed in cold water die of hypothermia.
Gordon Giesbrecht
Gordon Giesbrecht is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation at the University of Manitoba. He was also recently dubbed "Professor Popsicle" in a recent magazine article because of his interest in cold water survival. (Courtesy Gordon Giesbrecht)
Fact is, he explained, most victims are not lucky enough to live that long.
He said victims typically gasp in a deep breath following the shock of hitting the cold water, and quickly drown.
"We've all heard stories of, he dove in and we never saw him again," said Giesbrecht.
The three phases of cold water immersion
He explained there are three phases to cold water immersion, including cold shock in the first 10 to 40 seconds, which includes gasping followed by hyperventilation.
The next phase is cold incapacitation as the muscles and nerves begin to seize up.
"If your head's under water at that time, then you drown right there," he said.
In both phases, a PFD can be a lifesaver.
'The reality is if you have a life-jacket on, now you're not relying on your strength to be able to swim to keep yourself from drowning. You can probably live for a couple of hours before your heart stops because of of severe hypothermia.'
- Gordon Giesbrecht
"Incapacitation starts to set in in a couple of minutes and if you're in five degree water ... the average person ... if they happen to survive the gasping, would not be able to swim for more than a couple of minutes, 10 minutes at the most.
"The reality is if you have a life-jacket on, now you're not relying on your strength to be able to swim to keep yourself from drowning. You can probably live for a couple of hours before your heart stops because of of severe hypothermia," he said.
"As long as your head is above water you can live a long time."
With files from Jamie Baker
Why a plunge in the ocean is not necessarily a death sentence
CBC News Posted: Jun 24, 2015 6:00 AM NT| Last Updated: Jun 24, 2015 6:00 AM NT
The fishing community of Southern Harbour was rocked by the discovery of the bodies of three men who had sailed out of the port last week. (CBC)
External Links
■Beyond Cold Water Boot Camp http://beyondcoldwaterbootcamp.com/
(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)
A university professor who specializes in severe weather safety says the key to surviving a plunge in icy water is to keep your head above water and to wear a personal floatation device.
Many people who work on the water feel a PFD is unnecessary because the chances of surviving any longer than a few minutes in the cold Atlantic ocean are remote.
■Tragedy in Placentia Bay: Bodies of 3 missing crab fishermen recovered
But that's a myth Gordon Giesbrecht desperately wants to debunk.
Giesbrecht says it's possible for a person wearing just one layer of ordinary clothing to survive for up to two hours in ice-cold water.
The key, he says, is to keep your head above water — and the best way to do that is by wearing a floatation device.
"This all boils down to one major message: any time you get in a boat you should have a life-jacket on," he said.
Giesbrecht is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation at the University of Manitoba, but he is better known by his nickname, Professor Popsicle.
Debunking long-held myths
The long-running debate over PFDs and survival suits reignited in Newfoundland and Labrador following a tragic incident in Placentia Bay last week that resulted in the death of three fishermen.
Giesbrecht has long studied the affects of cold water on the human body, and says there's a misperception that most people immersed in cold water die of hypothermia.
Gordon Giesbrecht
Gordon Giesbrecht is a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation at the University of Manitoba. He was also recently dubbed "Professor Popsicle" in a recent magazine article because of his interest in cold water survival. (Courtesy Gordon Giesbrecht)
Fact is, he explained, most victims are not lucky enough to live that long.
He said victims typically gasp in a deep breath following the shock of hitting the cold water, and quickly drown.
"We've all heard stories of, he dove in and we never saw him again," said Giesbrecht.
The three phases of cold water immersion
He explained there are three phases to cold water immersion, including cold shock in the first 10 to 40 seconds, which includes gasping followed by hyperventilation.
The next phase is cold incapacitation as the muscles and nerves begin to seize up.
"If your head's under water at that time, then you drown right there," he said.
In both phases, a PFD can be a lifesaver.
'The reality is if you have a life-jacket on, now you're not relying on your strength to be able to swim to keep yourself from drowning. You can probably live for a couple of hours before your heart stops because of of severe hypothermia.'
- Gordon Giesbrecht
"Incapacitation starts to set in in a couple of minutes and if you're in five degree water ... the average person ... if they happen to survive the gasping, would not be able to swim for more than a couple of minutes, 10 minutes at the most.
"The reality is if you have a life-jacket on, now you're not relying on your strength to be able to swim to keep yourself from drowning. You can probably live for a couple of hours before your heart stops because of of severe hypothermia," he said.
"As long as your head is above water you can live a long time."
With files from Jamie Baker
