290 seamanship secrets
- Wrap the person in a wool blanket, sleeping bag, or space blanket.
- Give a warm nonalcoholic or non-caff einated beverage. You might add
a bit of sweetener.
Medium Hypothermia
- Remove wet clothing as described above.
- Use body-to-body warming. Crawl into a sleeping bag or under
a blanket and hug the victim from behind. - Treat the victim for shock (elevate feet 12" above head/cover with
warm blanket), even if it is not apparent. Keep the head slightly lower
than the feet. - Do not use hot-water bottles or heating pads to speed warming. Th e
skin of a hypothermic person is as fragile as glass. Artifi cial heating
methods may cause second- or third-degree burns.
Severe Hypothermia
- If there’s no time to remove clothing, leave it on. It still provides some
insulation. Get the person down into the cabin, covered and out of the
elements. - Treat the victim for shock (lower the head and raise the feet).
- Monitor pulse and respiration. If the person is breathing on his or her
own, gently exhale your breath down their throat as they inhale. - If the person is not breathing, begin CPR right away.
We’ve covered a lot of material in this book, and I hope that much of it is thought
provoking. Every skipper, even in the best of times, must keep thinking about “what
ifs.” What if the wind changes? What if a boat or ship changes direction? What if
the chart doesn’t match the visual picture? Th e more prepared you are, the more
pure enjoyment you receive aboard any vessel, power or sail. And isn’t that what
it’s all about?
Many seamanship recommendations seem black and white, but often nature
gives us another challenge—wind or current we didn’t count on—forcing you
to rethink the recommendations to fit your particular situation.
It’s OK to be unsure. No one is sure all the time. Th at’s just one more reason
to drop the anchor, heave-to, or lie adrift. If something doesn’t look or feel right,
stop the boat. Take a breather to work things out. You will oft en fi nd that solutions
come more easily when you need not concern yourself with the forward motion
of your boat.
To all of my readers, I extend my warmest thanks for coming along on this
journey. I sincerely wish each of you the best. May you always stay safe and
sound on the waters of the world.