Hypothermia Science and Survival: What You Need to Know to Recognise and Manage Cold Exposure

In the first part of this engaging presentation and Q&A session, Professor Jim Cotter - a world expert in environmental and exercise physiology from the University of Otago - will share key insights into the science behind cold injuries such as hypothermia and how they play out in outdoor and emergency environments.

His decades of research include a cold exposure experiment with filmmaker James Cameron, testing survivability following the sinking of the Titanic.

Professor Cotter will explain:

• What happens to the body in cold conditions - from the initial cold shock response to hypothermia

• Who is at risk and why

• What effective response and early treatment can look like in the field

• What does and doesn’t work in prevention

If there is interest and time, we can discuss the therapeutic effects of cold stress.

Prof Cotter is no stranger to the cold himself, regularly swimming in Otago's frosty southern waters.

Rob Creasy

Rob is the Regional Manager - Southern at Coastguard Tautiaki Moana. He has a strong background in search and rescue, elite sport, and exercise science. Rob served in the New Zealand Defence Force as a Navy diver, trained as an infantry soldier, and worked as a Bridge Watchkeeper aboard HMNZS warships. He also held leadership roles as Officer in Charge of three warships under Logistics Commander (Maritime).

After leaving the military, he worked as a high-performance sports scientist preparing Olympic and world-level athletes. Rob is also a decorated multisport athlete with multiple age-group world titles in triathlon and long-distance events.

He completed a PhD in collaboration with Professor Jim Cotter, focusing on cold exposure and human performance. Rob will draw on both his own experiences and his work supporting and rescuing others in cold environments.

Bethany Rogers

Bethany is a Queenstown-based writer and adventure athlete. She recently competed as a Frozen Fern at the International Ice Swimming Championships in Molveno, Italy.

Ice swimming must be undertaken in water colder than 5°C, and Bethany has just completed an Ice Mile (1.6km) at St Bathans. She is a local member of the Southern Lakes Swim Club, which swims year-round in Lake Whakatipu.

Bethany will give some insights into her response to cold water, and the warming-up process afterwards.

Start time:

Doors open at 6:45pm. Session starts at 7:00pm.

Parking:

Available at the Frankton Marina carpark - just a short walk from the Coastguard unit.

Refreshments:

Tea and coffee available before the session begins.