[pct-l] hypothermia

[AsABat]

So true Donna about those who are hypothermic not realizing they are in trouble. I saw it first hand when a scout I was with was shivering after snow play. I toild him to go change into dry clothes. He came back from his tent wearing the same clearly wet clothing. I asked if his clothes were dry, he touched his shirt and said Yes. Now we are in trouble. After laying out dry clothes and giving his specific directions he changed, then a warm fire, blanket, and hot soup and an hour later he was fine. Had I not recognized it we would have had a real problem. 

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

-----Original Message-----
From: "dsaufley" <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:05:50 
To: 'Don Billings'<dbillings803 at yahoo.com>; <Pct-l at backcountry.net>
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mr. Donovan

One of the symptoms of hypothermia is making irrational decisions.  Copied
from the Mayo Clinic website:

"Symtoms of Hypothermia in Adults:

	Shivering
	Clumsiness or lack of coordination
	Slurred speech or mumbling
	Stumbling
	Confusion or difficulty thinking
	Poor decision making, such as trying to remove warm clothes
	Drowsiness or very low energy
	Apathy, or lack of concern about one's condition
	Progressive loss of consciousness
	Weak pulse
	Shallow breathing

A person with hypothermia usually isn't aware of his or her condition,
because the symptoms often begin gradually and because the confused thinking
associated with hypothermia prevents self-awareness."

L-Rod

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Don Billings
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 9:44 AM
To: Pct-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mr. Donovan at the ADZPCTKO

Eckert,

Thanks for that. I appreciate the ADZPCTKO photo.

You're right. I've noticed that many people were injecting their own claims
of expertise and how they would have
responded to the emergency.... but when the chips are down and its only one
person against a life threatening 
event, none of us really know how well we would / or will respond. The most
common reaction, that I've heard,
is that humans almost always experience such great fear that their logic is
impaired. Thats why the usual
advice is to stop, calm down, relax, and then begin to assess the plan for
escape. Donovan may have 
had the expertise to escape despite his lacking of proper equipment.... only
to have fell victim to panic in a 
white out snow storm.

I do wish they had published the autopsy information. If he had broken a hip
/ pelvis / leg, that too would explain
his notes that he couldn't hike out.




________________________________
From: eckert <jape1 at cox.net>
To: bluebrain at bluebrain.ca; dbillings803 at yahoo.com
Sent: Mon, January 25, 2010 8:14:04 PM
Subject: Mr. Donovan at the ADZPCTKO

 This is the last picture I've found that was taken
of the man.  He's mid picture, white shorts and green hooded jacket. 
In the image, he appears to have a better tolerance of cold than most
of the folks in line.  I send it to you two, because of all those that
have posted, you seem to be trying to understand the human being within
the tragic event, rather than merely pontificating from the sidelines.

As an aside, if you haven't met her, Marge the Old Gal is at the front
of the line in sunglasses and purple jacket.  This was the year that
she blew out her knee on the trail and had to submit to rescue.  A year
later, a taxi plowed into her outside of Kathmandu and left her with
two years of semi effective rehabilitation.

eckert

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