RESPONSES OF HUMAN SUBJECTS TO IMMERSION IN ICE WATER AND TO SLOW AND FAST REWARMING,
Abstract
Two nude subjects were immersed shoulder deep in ice water for about one hour until the toes became numb, then the exposure was terminated. The average water temperature varied from about 42F. in the winter to as high as 50F. in the summer. Following this drastic chilling the subjects were rewarmed by exposure to air at 73 to 100F. or to water at 100 to 102F. A third subject dressed in outdoor winter clothing was chilled in a cold chamber at -20F. for about three hours, until his toes became numb. He was then rewarmed in air at 100F. without changing clothes. Rectal, gastric and oral temperatures following initial rise fell linearly during the cold exposure period. The conclusive finding in these tests was the abrupt fall of deep body temperatures in a comparatively warm environment (air temperature 73 to 100F.) following immersion in the iced water or exposure to cold air. The need for rapid rewarming of the chilled body, to prevent the precipitous 'after drop' of deep temperatures under the conditions of chilling in these experiments, is emphasized. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 23, 1950
- Accession Number
- AD0670534
Entities
People
- Albert R. Behnke
- Constantin P. Yaglou
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center