On Saturday, October 22nd, Coquitlam SAR members took part in a hypothermia workshop called “Beyond Cold Water Boot Camp”
The workshop was conducted by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht from the University of Manitoba. “Dr Popsicle” is a world leading researcher in the field of hypothermia, and is well known to Canadians for having appeared on the Rick Mercer Report.
The workshop covered hypothermia science, extraction techniques, packaging techniques and hypothermia treatment.
Some participants signed up to be “in water subjects”. The temperature of the Fraser River was 5 °C and 5 subjects entered the water in various levels of protection.
These participants were extracted and treated for hypothermia according to Dr. Geisbrecht’s instruction.
Coquitlam SAR was able to send 5 members that included paramedics and a nurse to learn these valuable techniques. The author is shown being treated for hypothermia (in the stretcher).
The team posing for a photo with Dr Geisbrecht after the seminar.