h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know that people have been trapped in icy water (under the ice sheet) for a long period of time (it may well be an hour plus). Be interesting to read how people are revived from this state. I know that it involves a type of 'slow thawing' but that's all I know.

Are you in a particular hurry for us to write this Entry?

B

Come to think of it maybe it doesn't require an entry. I might post on ASK or Sex. Be useful to know if there's a specific name for this type of treatment then I can look on Wikipedia.

I remember a lad fell in a lake a few years back in the UK. When they found him/the body some time later he still had a feint pulse and they planned to thaw him. He died though.

People have been revived hours after being trapped in icy water. That's why you're always supposed to do CPR on victims of cold water. Generally they're hooked up to life support until they revive - oh wait, you're talking thawing, I'm talking resusitation...


... so who froze?

http://perso.orange.fr/dmtmcham/hypothermia.htm

CLASSIFICATION

...three kinds of hypothermia, very different in their treatment. This emphasizes the importance of a precise knowledge of the circumstances.

Acute hypothermia
...This kind of hypothermia occurs in injured alpinist or skiers, immobilized in snow, a crevasse or a torrent.


Sub-acute hypothermia
This is hypothermia of an unharmed alpinist stuck in the mountain...

Sub-chronic hypothermia
This is found in poor urban environments, in winter. Onset is very slow...


HOSPITAL CARE
Pure hypothermia without circulatory failure = passive rewarming
Hypothermia and circulatory failure = active internal rewarming

Generally, I think the rule is if someone was cooled quickly, you warm them quickly. If someone was cooled slowly (like a granny sitting in her chair with no heating for days) then they need warming slowly.

Don't know how it works in really acute cases though.