Hypothermia

Hypothermia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
It was in late Jan-Early Feb and I was part of a military training exercise at Fort Polk LA. The weather was a consistent freezing temps and freezing rain or very cold rain for 8- of the 10 days I was there. I was posted on the perimeter of an airbase and my job was to guard that perimeter. I stayed on the perimeter for three days without any sleep... So I was exhausted already and had not had any relief or sleep. I remember just being very cold and tired at about midnight. Not wanting to swallow my pride and ask for help... I stayed on the post in a fox hole in the woods alone...l did not mean to fall asleep it just took me over. The next thing I remember is waking up in a Ft Polk hospital room with an IV sticking in my arm. The Doctor told me I was suffering from Hypothermia and exhaustion and my core body tempwas at 93 degrees when I was brought in. I was found by a young female troop named Jodi Dedecker who came and checked on me passed out in the hole, She sounded the alarm when she could not wake me up. She saved my life. It was a situation that I thought I was bigger than. But I wasn’t and it almost cost me my life.It happens all the time... in hunting and fishing we see situations we think we are bigger than... but the truth is we are not and it can become very dangerous, very quickly. If you hunt or fish for very long it is very likely you will become involved in one of these situations. Make sure you look at it very closely and make the smart move... so you don’t become a victim like I did in 1997. Tight Lines…

Definitely got to be careful out in the field or on the water, things that seem routine can turn into disaster and cost u your life in the blink of an eye!


You can take the boy out of the country but you can't take country out of the boy

Good thing she came by. The cold not anything to play with.

Yes... not nothing wrong with fishing or hunting in the cold. just be safe when dealing with it. Dress well, and get a good nights sleep before venturing out on a day long outdoor fishing or hunting trip. When we fish in the winter time we also are wearing lots of clothes...when these clothes become wet they act as anchors on us if we accidently fall in. Those same clothes we relied on to keep us warm just moments ago now become wet and restrain our movement in the water along with the freezing temps its a quick recipie for disaster.

Thanks for sharing Russ......


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x2 thanks for sharing!

Up here that is always a danger when outside during cold weather and that does not necessarily have to be freezing either. One can overdress and bring that on as well as underdress for the length of time one is out.

Always pay attention to when feeling cold starts to be painful and warm up completely under shelter and then do not go back out if still sweaty. One can be sweaty and chilled at the same time. If you pass that point where the pain stops and you start to feel sleepy, get to warm shelter immediately and get warmed up and completely stable before you do anything else!

Also be aware that if the sleepiness continues for very long you will probably also get disoriented. DO NOT LET IT GET TO THAT POINT OR YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO FIND THE NECESSARY SHELTER EVEN IN PLACES YOU KNOW WELL! Back in shelter you will almost certainly feel the pain that disappeared return as you warm up and that can be agonizing. You will also be lucky not to lose fingers or toes, ears etc at that point from being frozen.

Being wet accelerates the problem; so dress in layers that can be removed, opened and reapplied as your activity level changes. Do not allow yourself to be soaked in sweat by overdressing for the activity level you are engaging in. Next to your body dress in wicking undergarments and breathable insulating layers, or carefully manage more traditional clothing which very often loses its insulating qualities dramatically when wet. Sweating heavily indicates overheating which can crash rapidly into hypothermia, if not promptly and carefully corrected and stabilized.

Winter sports carry some very important dangers. Be safe.

One other thing, getting chilled almost invariably makes one clumsier. In a boat or in a stand be very careful when you move. Just standing up too quickly can result in losing one' balance and falling in or overboard. I had that happen to me shorefishing. I suddenly found myself over waist deep in the river just trying to stand up to limber up. End of fishing trip and a very quick trip to the house for a warm shower which is a very good way (and often even painful) to correct a well developed chill. Severe chilling generally required medical attention. Don't be too macho to refuse that care if there is any doubt at all in your mind. That can save fingers and toes ears and other frozen appendages if medical attention is gotten as quickly as possible.

There is a point where the chill is no longer uncomfortable at the time. Do not get to that point. No fish,duck or deer is worth the risks involved.

Very good info, thanks.

I would like to thank Ms Dedecker too. Otherwise, we wouldn't have a CrappiePro today.
DP