Once upon a chilly day it ‘used:to be called OT EE a ae ag Fates , ‘exposure’ or ‘freezing to death’. Today the name for it is hypothermia, a drastic lowering of the’ body temperature. In some cases, éxperts will tell - ‘you, it’s freezing to death. at above-freezing temperatures. Now, this may not read like the start to a sports column. But it is, for hypothermia has been called the number one killer of ' _gutdoor sportspersons and recreationists. . Every year its victims include skiers, hikers, canoers, boters, fishermen, hunters, , mers, snowmobile drivers. climbers, swim- The fourth week of January seems as good a time as any to discuss it, for this is no time of year to get lost overnight on Seymour or Hollyburn; or to go for an accidental swim in the saltchuck or through ice that isn’t as thick as you though it was. Most people are unaware of the potentially lethal effects of cold, especially when compounded by wind . Of wetness. Humans can last a month without food, several days without water, but only hours’ without warmth. AVERAGE IS DANGEROUS Most people, too, associate freezing to death with bitter, sub-zero tem- peratures. But most hypothermia cases occur in 0 to 10-degrees. Celsius weather, which pretty well describes the average winter day in these here parts. Getting wet in such temperatures can be fatal, especially if a wind is blowing. The c apacity of water to conduct heat away from your body is many times that of air: When your body loses heat faster than it can replace it, you become hypothermic. How do you know when hypothermia has set in? The symptoms are many: intense shivering, paleness, con- stricted pupils, rigid muscles, thick or slurred speech, labored breathing, irregular pulse, nausea, poor co-ordination, loss of alertness and judgment and memory. What happens is that the central nervous system gocs out of kilter. The vi¢tim may not even be aware of what's happening; have no memory of the experience later on -- “backpackers - and T.V. Casting Agent Screening applicants for catalogue modelling & TV com- merciats for upcoming spring season Must be well groomed & interested in part-time career only. Central Casting Vancouver Showmart Bullding 684-2485 (10 a.m. - 7 p.m.) if he survives. His best hope is to be among companions and that they will notice and begin treatment. This includes drying. the — victim if he’s wet; providing shelter, warmth, hot drinks, a hot bath and getting him into dry clothes. : A rule of thumb for anyone venturing into the woods or other unpopulated parts of the outdoors is: be prepared to get lost, because it can happen to anyone. Also be aware that hypothermia can result from many small heat leaks, such . as not having a hat, gloves or from getting wet and not being in adequate shelter. If you're Idst, build some kindof shelter before -you're too tired. Hypothermia experts say the temperature of hands and feet can.drop to half the normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees . permanent damage. But a drop of about 20 degrees F to the body’s core is fatal. Sudden immersion in cold water can bring death in 15 minutes. In 95 per cent of fatal boating accidents, it's not the boat, but the water; and for the most part it’s not drowning, but hypothermia. Fatigue and = injury compound hypothermia. And please rid yourself of the idea that heavy exercise or liquor will .keep you warm. They should be avoided, because they dilate blood vessels close to the skin, speeding up the loss of body heat. THE BEST DEFENSE Some of the best research > into hypothermia and how to it has been con- in North America combat ‘ducted just over the water, at the University of Victoria. It concludes that the best defence is proper insulation. And the best insulation is wool. It may be scratchy, but for the sake of your life, learn to live with the itch. Wool dries from within, which means it can insulate the body with trapped warm air, even when wet. Long johns, from the ankles to the F without — » neck, provide a warm micro- climate surrounding the — body. The‘ worst insulation is _ cottons When wet, it con- -— ducts heat away from the body. So, when you're out there -on your- cross-country Skis, and a 15-mile-an-hour breeze is‘ adding a frightening wind chill factor, make sure you're wearing wool -- cap, gloves, trousers and shirt. Don’t forget the cap or hat. Some experts estimate that 75 per cent of body heat can be lost through the head. The head is your radiator. Most definitely, no-no’s are jeans and T-shirts. When wet, they can slowly steal ‘your warmth, your strength and, just possibly, your life. Interviewed last year, Dr. John Hayward of the University of Victoria, a “research leader hypothermia, said that susceptibility varies greatly from. individual to in- dividual. For--instance, a long and lean person is ‘in more danger in the cold than a person with bulk. And, on” because they're smaller, women cool more quickly _ than men. STAY FIT A fit person who can keep moving will last longer than an unfit person who tires and must stop moving. On the - other hand; -a-fit person who falls. into cold water generally is in more danger than an unfit person, because he tends to be more lean and thus will cool faster. . , “If I could offer one piece of. advice,” says. Dr. Hayward, “it would be this: Be prepared to overnight it.” One final word of caution to all you outdoors winter sportsmen and _sport- swomen: be alert to the condition of companions. The cold can steal a person's warmth so slowly that often symptoms aren't visible until a victim's condition has reached the danger level. ..because every child has the right to smile 1974 international Yaar of thee Chic! ‘Unicef Canada G You needed some new ski boots. (The old lace-ups were a bit embarrassing.) A friend advised you to go to Skyline Sports, but you knew better—any old store would do. And you got a “fantastic bargain” The next day on the slopes, the buckles popped open and your feet had blisters. You'll never admit that your friend was right... but now you're off to Skyline— for expert advice, quality merchandise and affordable prices. SHRYLINE SPORTS FOR THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY SKYLINE SPORTS 119 West 16th St. North Vancouver, B.C. (Just off Lonsdale) 985-9161 Open until 9 p.m., Thurs. & Fri, Diy NCASEY wh ee Beet Display Adv — - -980- Shien Vancouver. On both Wednesday and Sunday 94% of the ad- dresses on the North Shore have the News delivered on their doorsteps. But we do miss some of you. If you are among the 6% that did not receive your copy of the News, you can pick one up at any one of the stores listed below. Sam Stewart Circulation Director In North Vancouver: Dan's Foodland 123 Lonsdale Liberty Market 1439 Lonsdale Anderson's Pharmacy 273 Lonsdale Wing's Market 457 Lonsdale Fairway Market 7O1TE 4thSt..N.Vv Mac's Milk 103E 12thSt NV Lonsdale Pharmacy 1103 Lonsdate North Shore Deli 1124 Lonsdale North Shore News 1139 Lonsdale B &L Grocery 1846 Lonsdale Mac's Milk 3119 Lonsdale 1139 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver 986-1337 (Circulation) 980-0511 (Office) ns 05 , we oF aaed | quit strife-forn iran: P.7 7 ¥ Upper Market 4193 Lynn Valley Road Quality Food Market 1462 Main St., N.V. Valley Food Market 1250 Lynn Vatley Road Peter Rabbit Market 4171 Edgemont Bivd. Delbrook Superette 3711 Deibrook Ave. . Lynn Mac's Milk 1849 Capilano Road in West Vancouver: Ambleside Market 1321 Marine Dr. Jiffy Market 1338 Marine Or. Ambleside Pharmacy 1402 Marine Or. Mac's Milk 1403 Marine Dr West Van Market 2170 Marine Or S Lcoealhchabaninaliientthecaseundduo le Drachsrtedelinemmtsatensenbeben™ er. north shore : news Valley ertising Sells In response to requests by both readers ano advertisers, the Wednesday and Sunday issues of the North Shore News are now on sale at various retail outlets in North and West ”