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Chapter 7- Problem Solving Problem Solving 161 Hot baths are not recommended after deep dives, because they might increase the possibility of decompression sickness (DCS) or cause other problems as cold blood diverts from your extremities. Hot baths for severe cases of heat loss must be avoided. Medical attention is necessary. There are many defenses against heat loss in the water. Some of these are natural, but some require deliberate action on your part. Your body’s first defense is to reduce the circulation of blood to your arms and legs. This conserves heat in the core of your body where the vital organs are located. Once your core temperature (the internal temperature of your body) lowers sufficiently, you begin to shiver. Shivering indicates chilling. Normally, the purpose of shivering is to produce heat, but shivering when you are under water cannot help with your heat loss and might make it worse. You must take shivering as a signal to end your diving activities until you recover. If you eat a well-balanced meal at least two hours before diving, your body will generate heat and your body will have fuel to dive. Your activity level while you dive also affects how much heat your body generates. Kicking at a moderate pace will help generate some heat. Just remember that heavy exercise is difficult under water as it requires you to use large amounts of air that quickly depletes your air supply. Your best defense in cold water is to wear the right amount of insulation for your needs. If you get cold while diving, you need to wear more insulation. If you are already wearing a full wetsuit with hood, boots, and gloves and are cold, you might need to switch to a dry suit to keep warm. If you are wearing a dry suit and are still cold, you might need more insulation or a different type of underwear beneath your suit. It is especially important to cover your high heat loss areas, including your head, hands, torso, groin, and neck. With the proper insulation, you can stay warm in almost any diving environment. You must learn to recognize heat loss as a potentially serious diving problem. You should stop diving when you become chilled. Rewarm yourself completely before you dive again. If you wear the right amount of insulation, dive wisely, recognize the symptoms of heat loss, and respond appropriately, you can avoid heat loss problems. Overheating Most people tend to think about problems associated with staying warm in cold water rather than with overheating. Problems with overheating usually occur on the surface as you are preparing to dive, but can occur while diving in warmer waters. A diving suit protects you against heat loss in the water, and it also does so when you are on the surface. This can lead to serious problems due to overheating before, during, and after the dive. Your body’s first reaction to overheating (hyperthermia) is to perspire. This can lower your body temperature as the moisture evaporates from your skin. Unfortunately, this does not work when you are covered head to toe by a dry suit, wetsuit, or other insulating garments. If you overheat and do not act to cool your body, you will experience some or all of the following symptoms of heat exhaustion: • Pale, clammy skin. • A feeling of weakness and fatigue. • Headache. • Nausea and possibly vomiting. You should take action immediately to lower your body temperature. If you are in a wetsuit, get into the water for a quick cool-off dip. If you cannot do this, get out of your exposure suit and get wet to start cooling down. If you are not nauseous, you can drink cool water to rehydrate your body. Be sure to stay out of the sun and rest until the symptoms go away. If you do not take these actions, and your body temperature continues to increase, your self-cooling responses will shut down. This leads to an extremely serious, life-threatening condition known as heat stroke. The skin of a heat stroke victim is dry and hot to the touch. You must get medical assistance immediately. To prevent overheating, pace yourself when donning your exposure suit. Be sure to stay out of the sun. If necessary, get the suit wet and keep it wet while you are donning the suit and then enter the water quickly after you have finished suiting up.


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