Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/01/06
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]I think that alcohol dilates the blood vessels close to the skin, which is why it makes you flushed, and can temporarily warm you up. However in very cold weather the body reacts by doing exactly the opposite, closing down blood vessels in your skin and fingers and toes (which is why they go numb) so that it can keep the core temperature up. So I always understood that alcohol could be quite tricky in an exposure situation. On Jan 6, 2004, at 11:07 AM, animal wrote: > A drunk was brought into our local emergency room after a night out.He > had a > core temperature of allmost 20 degrees centigrade.I,ve been told that > the > enormous alcohol content of his blood made him survive.Had something > to do > with how vessels in the periphery of the body react to alcohol i forgot > exactely how. > cheers > simon jessurun > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Johnny Deadman" <lists@johnbrownlow.com> > To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us> > Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 4:29 PM > Subject: Re: [Leica] Cold in Canada, Cold in Natchitoches > > >> this whole thread seems to ignore the effect of alcohol on short term >> cold endurance. >> >> I personally have gone out to get (more) beer at -25 C in a t-shirt. >> >> I have also fallen asleep on an outside doorstep at -10 C after >> sampling too much wine. >> >> (I have also seen an old farmer pumping gas at -20 C in his shirt >> sleeves... those guys probably have alcohol running in their veins). >> >> alcohol does nothing at all for your long term cold endurance, >> unfortunately... in fact quite the opposite... >> >> >> >> >> On Jan 5, 2004, at 6:16 PM, Emanuel Lowi wrote: >> >>> Sonny wrote: >>> >>> "-5 C = Torontonians wear coats, gloves and wool hats. >>> Calgarians throw on a t-shirt. >>> >>> -15 C = Quebecers begin to evacuate the province. >>> People in Saskatchewan go swimming." >>> >>> I deeply resent the suggestion that Quebeckers -- when it comes to >>> winter -- are >>> quitters. Given that La Belle Province's territory extends northwards >>> to latitude 63 >>> degrees N. (where one finds the lovely hamlet of Ivujivik, pop. 275), >>> it's safe to >>> claim that my countryfolk are among the toughest winter survivors >>> ever. My wife's >>> grandpa, age 93, spent three days last week hunting and fishing and >>> sleeping in a >>> tent, all at well below zero. No wimps need apply here, not with -45 >>> and dead calm >>> (real northerners don't mention that namby-pamby wind-chill hooey.) >>> :-) >>> Emanuel Lowi >>> Montreal. >>> -- >>> To unsubscribe, see >>> http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html >>> >>> >> -- >> John Brownlow >> >> http://www.pinkheadedbug.com >> http://www.unintended-consequences.com >> >> -- >> To unsubscribe, see >> http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html > > - -- John Brownlow http://www.pinkheadedbug.com http://www.unintended-consequences.com - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html