What to do with people recovered apparently dead, showing
no signs of life and extremely cold to the touch, is a very difficult
question.
In all probability they will indeed be dead, especially
if there are witness reports from other survivors that they have been
in that state for many hours.
If, however, there are no such witness reports, the assumption
must be that they may be alive but suffering from extreme hypothermia;
that is, the heart may still be working but at a very reduced level
of activity such that the pulse cannot be felt and the eye pupils
are widely dilated.
Always obtain medical advice as soon as possible.
Free advice may be obtained from a Telemedical Assistance Service
(TMAS), which can be contacted via a Rescue Coordination Centre.
The apparently dead should be:
- Recovered horizontally if possible and handled as if seriously
ill.
- The body should be gently placed in the recovery position in a
warm sheltered compartment, and well insulated.
- If still alive, the body can rewarm very slowly at an optimal
rate to allow it to compensate, by itself, for the major internal
fluid changes that occurred during the slow protracted cooling it
endured.
- Monitor and record pupil size and rectal temperature at hourly
intervals for 12 hours. If there is no change and there are still
no other signs of life, then it can be assumed that the casualty is
dead.
- If, however, pupil size decreases then, possibly, the casualty
is alive: commence monitoring and recording at 15-minute intervals,
including checking for pulse and breathing.
- If any sign of life is detected treat as for the unconscious immersion
casualty. See section 7 above.