15-13CONDITIONACTIONCold(Continued)In cold waters, your greatest danger after abandoning ship is the effects of the cold. Wearas much clothing as you possibly can, especially heavy undergarments. Ordinary clothinggives you no protection against cold if you are immersed in water. You must get out of thewater as quickly as possibleHuddle together for warmth. A huddled group can survive cold that might be fatal to oneperson alone. Rig wind and spray shields, but don’t block the sun’s heat. Exercise mildly, ifpossible, to increase body heat; but never do so to the point of exhaustion.Lifeboats are uncomfortable and cold. In frigid temperatures, you must keep both ends ofthe inflatable lifeboat closed to keep the temperature comfortable; but this confinementcreates other discomforts. Closing the ends reduces ventilation and raises the humidity. Thenyou must reopen the ends to let out the impure air and to bring in fresh air, which, of course, iscold.Sunburn Shoes and clothing are a real protection against sunburn and exposure. Remove clothingonly when it is absolutely necessary. If you must remove your clothes while in the water, takeoff only the heaviest articles. Because your shirt or jumper offers warmth at night as well asprotection from the sun during the day, don’t remove it. Sunburn is easier to prevent than totreat. Try to remain out of the direct rays of the sun. If you can’t avoid direct exposure, keepyour hat on and cool your body by wetting your clothing.Dampness Although remaining dry on a lifeboat is always difficult, make every effort to keep yourclothing dry. Since continuous condensation of moisture causes it to drop like rain, sponge outthe boat whenever possible. Cold weather aggravates these uncomfortable conditions.Frostbite andimmersion footFrostbite and immersion foot are serious injuries that can happen even when you’rewearing enough clothing to stay fairly comfortable. Frostbite usually affects the hands, face,or feet, and it most often occurs on windy, very cold days. Affected parts of the body turn stiff,pale, and numb. To prevent frostbite, keep exposed parts of the body as warm as possible andmaintain circulation. If frostbite occurs, treat the affected part immediately by placing it incontact with a warm part of your body. Cover it with your hand or put frozen fingers insideyour clothing. Don’t rub the affected parts; that could result in damage to frozen tissue.Immersion foot is the swelling of the foot accompanied by numbness and pallor (lack ofcolor) or discoloration. Immersion foot is caused by poor circulation in the legs, particularlywhen the foot remains wet for several days. To prevent immersion foot, exercise the ankles andtoes for a few minutes several times each day. Keep your feet warm, dry, and elevated as muchas possible. Unlace your shoes or take them off. If you have no dry socks or wrappings for yourfeet, put them under the arms or in the lap of a shipmate. Never treat immersion foot byrubbing. As with frostbite, tissue damage may result. Rewarming is the only proper treatment.Student Notes:
Integrated Publishing, Inc. - A (SDVOSB) Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business
