Hypothermia: a Problem for North Sea Industries

The North Sea is a thermally inhospitable environment for those working above or below the water, and for any unfortunate enough to be accidentally immersed in it. The low air temperatures coupled with high wind speeds make working conditions above the surface both unpleasant and hazardous, while the low water temperatures throughout the year make hypothermia and subsequent drowning inevitable to those immersed in the sea for any but short periods of time. The threat of hypothermia commences when personnel board the service helicopter to be transported to an off-shore rig or barge, and remains until they step ashore again at the end of their duty period. This paper reviews some of the relevant applied physiological facts concerning this potential problem, and offers some guidelines on the management of immersion victims who may be suffering from hypothermia.