prep_infocus_springhazards


	June Spring and Early Summer Hazards
	Hypothermia and Flooding

No matter what you plan to do this June – clam digging, fishing, river rafting, boating, or swimming - BE AWARE – the water is still cold and HYPOTHERMIA happens quickly.

Swimming in the river As surprising as this may sound, hypothermia is a serious risk during the spring. As temperatures warm up people, especially children, turn to outdoor water activities and may not be aware that water temperatures are much colder due to snow pack run-off. Use caution and learn the symptoms of hypothermia and the steps to take if someone experiences hypothermia.

What is hypothermia?

Hypothermia is a condition in which a person’s body temperature has dropped significantly below normal. This can occur from extended activity in cold water as the loss of body heat occurs 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air. The very young and elderly are the most susceptible to developing hypothermia when exposed to cold temperatures.

The risk and extent of hypothermia is directly influenced by presence of wet clothing, contact with metals, wind-chill, and extent of temperature gradient between the body and its surroundings. Vulnerability is increased when circulation is impaired by cardiovascular disease, alcohol intake, exhaustion, and/or hunger.

What are the symptoms of hypothermia?

Uncontrolled shivering
Slow or unclear speech
Feeling extremely tired
Stumbling when attempting to walk
Confusion (person cannot think clearly)
Semi-consciousness or unconsciousness

What should I do if someone has hypothermia?

If a person becomes unconscious, get medical help immediately. If cardiac arrest (heart attack) has occurred, have someone call for medical assistance and then apply CPR.
WARNING: Do not warm the person too fast.
Bring the person indoors or to a dry place protected from the wind.
Remove wet clothing and cover the person with dry blankets. Make sure to cover the head, hands, and feet.
Put the person in a cot or bed next to a warm - not hot - heater.
Lie under the covers next to the person to transfer your own body heat. If possible, have someone else lie on the other side.
Give the person warm - not hot - broth or soup. Do not give alcohol to drink.
Wrap an infant inside your own clothing against your skin.

Although floods can happen at any time during the year, there are typical seasonal patterns for flooding in Washington State, based on the variety of natural processes that cause floods:

Heavy rainfall on wet or frozen ground, before a snow pack has accumulated, typically cause fall and early winter floods.
Rainfall combined with melting of the low-elevation snow pack typically cause winter and early spring floods.
Late spring /early summer floods in Eastern Washington result primarily from melting of the snow pack.
Thunderstorms typically cause flash flood during the summer in Eastern Washington; on rare occasions, thunderstorms embedded in winter-like rainstorms cause flash floods in Western Washington.