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Author Topic:   Hypothermia

jimh posted 07-25-2013 09:42 AM ET (US)
While boating last week in Northern Lake Michigan, we enjoyed extremely warm weather. The air temperature was over 90-degrees every day. We also enjoyed short swims in relatively warm water. In the bays and anchorages where we were swimming, the surface water temperature was about 75-degrees, which is warmer than we usually find. However, a news story about Lake Michigan reminded us of the danger that exists for prolonged immersion in the water and hypothermia.
At one point in our cruise, we visited North Manitou Island, and then returned to the mainland shore. The island is about eight or nine miles offshore, and the trip can be rough if the wind is up from the Southwest, which it usually is.
Earlier in July, a father and son in a canoe had paddled out to North Manitou Island, a National Park, from the Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline, also a park, in a canoe. After spending about two hours on the island, they set out to return. When about a mile from shore, around 8:30 p.m. and near Sleeping Bear Point, their canoe was overturned by a wave, and the 48-year-old man and his eight-year-old son went into the water of Lake Michigan. At that time, water temperature was reported to be 55-degrees. Both were wearing personal floatation devices. Using a cellular telephone, the father called for help.
About 11 p.m., about two and half hours later, the Glen Lake Fire Department rescue boat located the two, and pulled them from the water. They were both unconscious. The boy was hoisted into a Coast Guard helicopter and flown to hospital in Traverse City, where he died. The father was transported to shore and then to hospital in an ambulance, where he was admitted in critical condition with hypothermia.
Reading the account of this accidental death of a young boater reminded us of the danger of prolonged exposure in Great Lakes water, even in the heat of summer. The outcome of this capsize was also a reminder that hypothermia affects young people faster than adults. And it also brought to mind a very similar story from the past from the North Channel of Lake Huron. The story of the wreck of the RHU concludes with an equally tragic outcome.
http://continuouswave.com/north-channel/RHU.html
Whenever we transit the Clapperton Island Passage, we think about the RHU. And now, when we are near Sleeping Bear, I am afraid we will be similarly saddened with the story of this young boater.
Although we may go boating in unsinkable boats, they are not immune to capsize, and we should always be aware of the danger of prolonged exposure to cold water.

Plotman posted 07-25-2013 10:03 AM ET (US)
Wow - the story of the father and son taking a canoe 9 miles out in to Lake Michigan makes me mad. It is one thing for an adult, who understands the risks and knows the consequences of his actions to make a stupid choice, but to put a child in a situation like that makes my blood boil.
The fact is, that in the northern Great Lakes, it is only the surface water that ever warms up. You don't have to go very far down and the temps never really get above 40.
And this means that there can be upwellings almost anywhere where the water temp on the surface can suddenly change from 60s or 70s to the 30s. I've seen it many, many times on Lake Superior, particularly along the north shore.
ConB posted 07-25-2013 10:34 AM ET (US)
The Leelanau County sheriff said "respect for the dangers of the Great Lakes has been lost".
The latest craze are the stand up paddle boards we see in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay and no PFDs on or aboard.
Wind can change water temperature quickly.
http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=925795#.UfE1PxaQ5UR
Con
jimh posted 07-25-2013 10:50 AM ET (US)
This news story
http://record-eagle.com/local/x243085412/ Child-8-dies-in-Lake-Michigan-canoeing-accident/
reveals that the canoe was a rental, and both the rental company and park rangers warned the man about the danger of making such a trip.
The sea state at the time of the capsize is described as "three-foot chop." Those are rough conditions in that open water even in a 22-foot Boston Whaler. It is a very sad story.
ConB posted 07-25-2013 11:14 AM ET (US)
Just over a year ago in the middle of winter a lone kayaker headed to the Manitou Islands, miles off shore. If the gales would stop blowing most years this area would be iced over.
http://www.leelanaunews.com/?q=node/2263
One nameless rescue person said to me, "this was a new kind of stupid".
Con
wezie posted 07-25-2013 11:31 AM ET (US)
Thank you very much for reminding us of these changes in temp, both of air, and water. I have never heard of such extreme water temperature changes.
Of course we are in TX.
The Father's choice of tools with which to have an adventure was flawed.
The canoe or which ever craft chosen is just a tool. The canoe itself seems to have evolved for river and protected water use, and has the characteristic of being light enough to carry around the bad spots.
There were also larger canoes. Choices of watercraft during that period were somewhat limited. In summary, stability and self rescue is not a characteristic of canoes.
Nostalgic as the canoe may seem, only a very few people are really experienced in handling one. I cannot get past the thought that he was into a real nostalgic moment in this outing. He must have been in some zone to select a canoe for this adventure.
We see small kayaks in the middle of the lakes and bays. If properly selected designs are used, they are relatively safe. If not, they are just waiting for the time to come up.
Additionally they are INVISIBLE with any waves at all. A camoflaged color makes them more invisible.
Te sheriff makes the great statement, as to our forgetting the dangers of those lakes and any waters in general.
God Bless those folks.

andygere posted 07-25-2013 08:56 PM ET (US)
Sad story, but a good warning for all of us. The water where I do most of my boating is in the fifties all year long, plenty cold to kill you in fairly short order. Keeping the boat upright, and keeping your person inside the boat are critical to safety and survival. Beyond that, only a speedy rescue will save you. I carry a PLB on my person when I use my Whaler in order to improve my odds of a speedy rescue should I ever need one. Perhaps more importantly, I always asses conditions and try to avoid poor weather and sea states to the extent that they are forecast. Be careful out there.
cooper1958nc posted 08-02-2013 12:29 PM ET (US)
The rule of thumb is 50 50 50.
Fifty percent survival if swimming 50 yards at 50 degrees.
cooper1958nc posted 08-02-2013 12:37 PM ET (US)
A good USCG summary of hypothermia. http://www.uscg.mil/pvs/docs/coldwater1.pdf
jimh posted 08-02-2013 01:38 PM ET (US)
Cold water can take your breath away--literally:
A 70-year-old man who was an inexperienced Kayaker recently drowned in the Leland area of Lake Michigan, in mid-July, about the same time we were up north on our cruise and in those same waters. He went out onto Lake Michigan in very calm conditions, taking along another fellow, an 81-year-old, in the kayak, too. The wind came up and what is described as a three-foot wave overturned the kayak. They were close enough to shore, about 100-yards, to be seen by a shoreline resident, who alerted rescuers. The 81-year-old was wearing a PFD and was able to swim to shore. He was in the water for about 45-minutes. The 70-year-old man was not wearing a PDF. He did not survive. The body was recovered in 11-feet of water.
Cold water temperature was involved, as the case was described as a "dry drowning," a situation in which the cold water closes off the airway.
The TRAVERSE CITY EAGLE-RECORD has more details:
http://record-eagle.com/local/x1912997194/ Kayaker-drowns-in-Lake-Michigan
EJO posted 08-02-2013 02:42 PM ET (US)
Sad stories again, my condolences to the families involved. One thing again Lake Michigan or any of the other Great lakes is an body of water to be reckoned with even more than the open oceans.
I personally think any boat less than 22-25 ft should not venture out more than a couple of miles from a safe harbor on these big lakes.
I ran into many 12-16 ft aluminum jon-boats fishing for the "big" salmon 5-10 miles out on Lake Michigan while sailing in my 32ft sail boat in 2 ft waves and thought these guys are crazy.
Never saw a woman out there as my wife always said a woman wouldn't do something that crazy.
Lake Michigan is dangerous.
Whalerdog posted 08-08-2013 01:39 PM ET (US)
I sea kayak all year and respect the water and the temp. Gets down to mid 30's on LOng Island bays. I have a Kokatat drysuit , neoprene head sock. gloves, under layers of polar fleece in the suit, wool socks and when immersed you still know you in cold water. I carry my cell in a drypack, and waterproof two hand held VHF radios. One radio is on my body and one on the deck of the kayak. When something goes wrong there is no one to help you and no store to buy anything you may need. There is s huge difference in water 65* and 55*, then drop to 45* and even 35*.
I raced offshore boats on the great lakes and the word lake gives people a false sense of security. Roughest race I was ever in was Grand Haven MI in '87.
I wear my drysuit till the water is 65*. You dress for the water temp not the air temp which is very misleading especially in the spring. Every boating course should include you legs being immersed in water that is 50*.
God Bless the victims but to take a kid out in those conditions is just crazy.
pcrussell50 posted 08-09-2013 10:28 AM ET (US)
We swim when boat out in the desert in the summer. Air temps 110+, water temps mid-upper 80's... It's the closest thing we have to Margaritaville on the west coast. In addition to snorkeling, we like to put our life jackets on upside down, (legs through the arm holes), and jump in the water and just bob around and be ensconced by it. As someone who receives modest water survival training, I practice being aware of the physiological stages of hypothermia. I'm good for about an hour in tropical water hot enough to start up a major hurricane, before I begin to detect the early stages of hypothermia.
It's funny sometimes when my charges (guests on my boat) complain about the warm water not feeling refreshing when its 110+ out. I have the full faith and understanding of thermodynamics on my side. I know darned good and well that when a 98.6 degree body is immersed in an 88 degree thermal reservoir, it will eventually reach temperature equilibrium with the reservoir. In the case of a human being, he will be long dead before that happens if he remains where the 88 degree water can continue sucking the heat out of him.
-Peter
andrey320 posted 08-09-2013 12:25 PM ET (US)
Cold water is always a concern here in Souther Califonia Pacific waters. The temperature usually ranges between 55-65. Although I do not wear my wetsuit when I venture offshore, I do bring it. When our community pool temperature drops, I practice putting it on in the water. I know there are "holes" in this "plan" but it covers some of them....
David Pendleton posted 08-09-2013 11:33 PM ET (US)
On my return trip from Isle Royale in 2007, I encountered large areas where the surface temperature was 36°.
According to the MN Sea Grant website, you would lose consciousness in 15-30 minutes, and perish in 30-90 minutes in water that cold.
http://seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_communities/hypothermia
I almost exclusively boat solo on L. Superior; this is why I invested in an AutoTether, self-inflating PFD and a harness.

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Author	Topic: Hypothermia
jimh	posted 07-25-2013 09:42 AM ET (US) While boating last week in Northern Lake Michigan, we enjoyed extremely warm weather. The air temperature was over 90-degrees every day. We also enjoyed short swims in relatively warm water. In the bays and anchorages where we were swimming, the surface water temperature was about 75-degrees, which is warmer than we usually find. However, a news story about Lake Michigan reminded us of the danger that exists for prolonged immersion in the water and hypothermia. At one point in our cruise, we visited North Manitou Island, and then returned to the mainland shore. The island is about eight or nine miles offshore, and the trip can be rough if the wind is up from the Southwest, which it usually is. Earlier in July, a father and son in a canoe had paddled out to North Manitou Island, a National Park, from the Sleeping Bear Dunes shoreline, also a park, in a canoe. After spending about two hours on the island, they set out to return. When about a mile from shore, around 8:30 p.m. and near Sleeping Bear Point, their canoe was overturned by a wave, and the 48-year-old man and his eight-year-old son went into the water of Lake Michigan. At that time, water temperature was reported to be 55-degrees. Both were wearing personal floatation devices. Using a cellular telephone, the father called for help. About 11 p.m., about two and half hours later, the Glen Lake Fire Department rescue boat located the two, and pulled them from the water. They were both unconscious. The boy was hoisted into a Coast Guard helicopter and flown to hospital in Traverse City, where he died. The father was transported to shore and then to hospital in an ambulance, where he was admitted in critical condition with hypothermia. Reading the account of this accidental death of a young boater reminded us of the danger of prolonged exposure in Great Lakes water, even in the heat of summer. The outcome of this capsize was also a reminder that hypothermia affects young people faster than adults. And it also brought to mind a very similar story from the past from the North Channel of Lake Huron. The story of the wreck of the RHU concludes with an equally tragic outcome. http://continuouswave.com/north-channel/RHU.html Whenever we transit the Clapperton Island Passage, we think about the RHU. And now, when we are near Sleeping Bear, I am afraid we will be similarly saddened with the story of this young boater. Although we may go boating in unsinkable boats, they are not immune to capsize, and we should always be aware of the danger of prolonged exposure to cold water.
Plotman	posted 07-25-2013 10:03 AM ET (US) Wow - the story of the father and son taking a canoe 9 miles out in to Lake Michigan makes me mad. It is one thing for an adult, who understands the risks and knows the consequences of his actions to make a stupid choice, but to put a child in a situation like that makes my blood boil. The fact is, that in the northern Great Lakes, it is only the surface water that ever warms up. You don't have to go very far down and the temps never really get above 40. And this means that there can be upwellings almost anywhere where the water temp on the surface can suddenly change from 60s or 70s to the 30s. I've seen it many, many times on Lake Superior, particularly along the north shore.
ConB	posted 07-25-2013 10:34 AM ET (US) The Leelanau County sheriff said "respect for the dangers of the Great Lakes has been lost". The latest craze are the stand up paddle boards we see in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay and no PFDs on or aboard. Wind can change water temperature quickly. http://www.upnorthlive.com/news/story.aspx?id=925795#.UfE1PxaQ5UR Con
jimh	posted 07-25-2013 10:50 AM ET (US) This news story http://record-eagle.com/local/x243085412/ Child-8-dies-in-Lake-Michigan-canoeing-accident/ reveals that the canoe was a rental, and both the rental company and park rangers warned the man about the danger of making such a trip. The sea state at the time of the capsize is described as "three-foot chop." Those are rough conditions in that open water even in a 22-foot Boston Whaler. It is a very sad story.
ConB	posted 07-25-2013 11:14 AM ET (US) Just over a year ago in the middle of winter a lone kayaker headed to the Manitou Islands, miles off shore. If the gales would stop blowing most years this area would be iced over. http://www.leelanaunews.com/?q=node/2263 One nameless rescue person said to me, "this was a new kind of stupid". Con
wezie	posted 07-25-2013 11:31 AM ET (US) Thank you very much for reminding us of these changes in temp, both of air, and water. I have never heard of such extreme water temperature changes. Of course we are in TX. The Father's choice of tools with which to have an adventure was flawed. The canoe or which ever craft chosen is just a tool. The canoe itself seems to have evolved for river and protected water use, and has the characteristic of being light enough to carry around the bad spots. There were also larger canoes. Choices of watercraft during that period were somewhat limited. In summary, stability and self rescue is not a characteristic of canoes. Nostalgic as the canoe may seem, only a very few people are really experienced in handling one. I cannot get past the thought that he was into a real nostalgic moment in this outing. He must have been in some zone to select a canoe for this adventure. We see small kayaks in the middle of the lakes and bays. If properly selected designs are used, they are relatively safe. If not, they are just waiting for the time to come up. Additionally they are INVISIBLE with any waves at all. A camoflaged color makes them more invisible. Te sheriff makes the great statement, as to our forgetting the dangers of those lakes and any waters in general. God Bless those folks.
andygere	posted 07-25-2013 08:56 PM ET (US) Sad story, but a good warning for all of us. The water where I do most of my boating is in the fifties all year long, plenty cold to kill you in fairly short order. Keeping the boat upright, and keeping your person inside the boat are critical to safety and survival. Beyond that, only a speedy rescue will save you. I carry a PLB on my person when I use my Whaler in order to improve my odds of a speedy rescue should I ever need one. Perhaps more importantly, I always asses conditions and try to avoid poor weather and sea states to the extent that they are forecast. Be careful out there.
cooper1958nc	posted 08-02-2013 12:29 PM ET (US) The rule of thumb is 50 50 50. Fifty percent survival if swimming 50 yards at 50 degrees.
cooper1958nc	posted 08-02-2013 12:37 PM ET (US) A good USCG summary of hypothermia. http://www.uscg.mil/pvs/docs/coldwater1.pdf
jimh	posted 08-02-2013 01:38 PM ET (US) Cold water can take your breath away--literally: A 70-year-old man who was an inexperienced Kayaker recently drowned in the Leland area of Lake Michigan, in mid-July, about the same time we were up north on our cruise and in those same waters. He went out onto Lake Michigan in very calm conditions, taking along another fellow, an 81-year-old, in the kayak, too. The wind came up and what is described as a three-foot wave overturned the kayak. They were close enough to shore, about 100-yards, to be seen by a shoreline resident, who alerted rescuers. The 81-year-old was wearing a PFD and was able to swim to shore. He was in the water for about 45-minutes. The 70-year-old man was not wearing a PDF. He did not survive. The body was recovered in 11-feet of water. Cold water temperature was involved, as the case was described as a "dry drowning," a situation in which the cold water closes off the airway. The TRAVERSE CITY EAGLE-RECORD has more details: http://record-eagle.com/local/x1912997194/ Kayaker-drowns-in-Lake-Michigan
EJO	posted 08-02-2013 02:42 PM ET (US) Sad stories again, my condolences to the families involved. One thing again Lake Michigan or any of the other Great lakes is an body of water to be reckoned with even more than the open oceans. I personally think any boat less than 22-25 ft should not venture out more than a couple of miles from a safe harbor on these big lakes. I ran into many 12-16 ft aluminum jon-boats fishing for the "big" salmon 5-10 miles out on Lake Michigan while sailing in my 32ft sail boat in 2 ft waves and thought these guys are crazy. Never saw a woman out there as my wife always said a woman wouldn't do something that crazy. Lake Michigan is dangerous.
Whalerdog	posted 08-08-2013 01:39 PM ET (US) I sea kayak all year and respect the water and the temp. Gets down to mid 30's on LOng Island bays. I have a Kokatat drysuit , neoprene head sock. gloves, under layers of polar fleece in the suit, wool socks and when immersed you still know you in cold water. I carry my cell in a drypack, and waterproof two hand held VHF radios. One radio is on my body and one on the deck of the kayak. When something goes wrong there is no one to help you and no store to buy anything you may need. There is s huge difference in water 65* and 55, then drop to 45 and even 35. I raced offshore boats on the great lakes and the word lake gives people a false sense of security. Roughest race I was ever in was Grand Haven MI in '87. I wear my drysuit till the water is 65. You dress for the water temp not the air temp which is very misleading especially in the spring. Every boating course should include you legs being immersed in water that is 50*. God Bless the victims but to take a kid out in those conditions is just crazy.
pcrussell50	posted 08-09-2013 10:28 AM ET (US) We swim when boat out in the desert in the summer. Air temps 110+, water temps mid-upper 80's... It's the closest thing we have to Margaritaville on the west coast. In addition to snorkeling, we like to put our life jackets on upside down, (legs through the arm holes), and jump in the water and just bob around and be ensconced by it. As someone who receives modest water survival training, I practice being aware of the physiological stages of hypothermia. I'm good for about an hour in tropical water hot enough to start up a major hurricane, before I begin to detect the early stages of hypothermia. It's funny sometimes when my charges (guests on my boat) complain about the warm water not feeling refreshing when its 110+ out. I have the full faith and understanding of thermodynamics on my side. I know darned good and well that when a 98.6 degree body is immersed in an 88 degree thermal reservoir, it will eventually reach temperature equilibrium with the reservoir. In the case of a human being, he will be long dead before that happens if he remains where the 88 degree water can continue sucking the heat out of him. -Peter
andrey320	posted 08-09-2013 12:25 PM ET (US) Cold water is always a concern here in Souther Califonia Pacific waters. The temperature usually ranges between 55-65. Although I do not wear my wetsuit when I venture offshore, I do bring it. When our community pool temperature drops, I practice putting it on in the water. I know there are "holes" in this "plan" but it covers some of them....
David Pendleton	posted 08-09-2013 11:33 PM ET (US) On my return trip from Isle Royale in 2007, I encountered large areas where the surface temperature was 36°. According to the MN Sea Grant website, you would lose consciousness in 15-30 minutes, and perish in 30-90 minutes in water that cold. http://seagrant.umn.edu/coastal_communities/hypothermia I almost exclusively boat solo on L. Superior; this is why I invested in an AutoTether, self-inflating PFD and a harness.