Cork County Council Beachguards have issued a warning to the public about the risk of hypothermia due to the persistently cold water temperatures on beaches across the county. Despite being in the midst of summer, the Irish sea remains chilly, prompting the council’s beachguard Facebook page to share valuable tips to help people stay vigilant.
Hypothermia occurs when the body’s internal temperature drops, and it can be triggered by prolonged exposure to cold water. If left untreated, it can have severe consequences. To help identify the signs of hypothermia, the beachguards have outlined four key indicators, known as the ‘umbles’: grumbles, fumbles, mumbles, and stumbles. Grumbles refer to a negative mental outlook, while fumbles involve slow reaction time, clumsiness, and poor coordination, particularly in fine motor skills such as buttoning up clothes. Mumbles refer to slurred speech, and stumbles indicate stiffness and eventually the inability to walk unassisted.
In their Facebook post, the beachguards advised taking preventive measures against hypothermia, such as wearing thermal wetsuits during lengthy swims and warming up afterwards with warm clothing and hot beverages. If someone is experiencing hypothermia, it is crucial to bring them indoors, cover them with a foil survival blanket, and contact emergency services at 112 if immediate assistance is required.