On-Board the M/V Arctic Sunrise

Day Thirty-nine - 28 December 1999

The Yushin-maru left during this morning's snowstorm. While the snow was pretty, it reminded me that "wet + cold = danger."

"Hypothermia"

Andrew Davies writes from the M/V Arctic Sunrise.

Even though it's summer here in the Antarctic, the air temperature hovers around zero degrees Centigrade and the water temperature can be even colder. Over the past week the crew of the M/V Arctic Sunrise has spent a lot of time in small boats on the open seas being sprayed, hosed and sometimes even submerged in this frigid water while trying to stop Japan's illegal whaling. This could easily lead to a life threatening condition called hypothermia.

Hypothermia is a condition where the body loses heat faster than it can be generated. resulting. This results in a drop in the core b= ody temperature. A body temperature of 35 Centigrade or less is the commonly accepted threshhold for hypothermia. The brain is the most susceptible organ to the effects of a drop in body temperature. One of the first signs of hypothermia is often a change in personality.

Hypothermia from prolonged exposure to the cold can be insidious - symptoms can develop gradually and the patient is often not aware of their own condition - so everyone on the crew watches their fellow activists for the early warning signs:

• A change in personality
  
• Shivering
  
• Tiredness/lethargy
  
• Anxiety or lack of interest - even in their own safety
  
• Clumsiness
  
• Slurred speech
  
• Difficulty in seeing
  
• Sense of unreality
  
• Irrational behavior

There are two ways a person on the M/V Arctic Sunrise could get hypothermia: prolonged exposure and/or immersion in cold water. Immersion in very cold water rapidly lowers the body's temperature, but the body does have some defense mechanisms - primarily "vasoconstriction of peripheral circulation". That is, the tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin contract and this helps to keep the body's warm blood safely away from the colder surface. The body also restricts blood flow to the arms and legs, which could be colder than the center of the body. All of this is designed to protect the brain and the heart - both of which are vulnerable to a drop in temperature. For example, the electro-chemical reactions that regulate your heartbeat can be retarded by a drop in temperature.

Shivering is actually another defense mechanism against the cold because the act generates heat.

A patient is not safe from the effects of hypothermia even after they are pulled from the water and brought back to the ship. An article in the Alaska Fisherman's Journal tells the story of a man who was conscious and able walk around after being pulled from frigid water. He was put in a chair in a warm shower, but was found dead minutes later.

Cases such as this are not uncommon. Most likely, the hot water of the shower warmed the man's extremities - dilating the constricted blood vessels. Cold blood still trapped in his extremities flooded back into the center of the man's body and fatally dropped the blood temperature around his heart. This is why patients suffering from hypothermia must be handled gently and warmed up with care.

With fifteen years seagoing experience, Sue (our medic), knows a lot about the dangers of hypothermia. But when asked if she had ever treated anyone for serious hypothermia she said, "No, you try and catch them before it reaches that point. Prevention is the best treatment."

Anyone placed at risk by going out in the small boats must wear a special full body suits. Underneath, the crew members wear lots of clothing that can stay warm even when wet. It's also important to stay well-fed, get enough rest and drink plenty of water.

The crew is well trained in hypothermia prevention and treatment, but just to make sure, Sue has posted literature in all of the ship's bathrooms. Safety is a top priority on any ship and when you are in the Southern Ocean, it has added dimensions.

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