In the fall of 1956 (my last medical school year), I was a volunteer extern at Twillingate Hospital in Newfoundland. On house calls to other local islands, I often noted the total absence of life jackets or other flotation devices in local fishing boats. And I was repeatedly told that "Newfoundlanders can't swim because local waters are always near-freezing." So those who fell into the icy waters drowned quickly — after a few frantic, aimless attempts to swim.
To encourage local swimming lessons, I bet Dr. Olds, my boss, $25 (then a lot of money!) that I could easily swim across Twillingate Harbor (about an eighth of a mile). He immediately took that bet, but we were too busy for me to try until one sunny Sunday morning in September when I was "off call," the weather was calm and the harbor quiet while nearly everyone gathered to pray at the Salvation Army or smaller churches.
I put on my bathing suit, went to the shore and started to swim across. That water truly was fiercely cold as I began swimming with my customary side-stroke. Then, almost immediately, the entire world began to "spin" so rapidly that there was no way to swim under visual control. Fortunately, I recalled having had the same whirling visual experience when icy water was poured into one of my ears in medical school.
I quickly dipped my still-warm and dry ear into that icy sea — which almost immediately stopped my "spinning." Thereafter, I kept my head well above water level to safely complete this brief crossing. But by the time I reached the other shore, I was so cold I could barely stand.
Fortunately, Dr. Olds had seen my swim from his window, so he drove down to the shore in the hospital jeep and gave me a ride back to my room. As soon as I got to my room, my friends brought me frequently replaced hot water bottles to place over my heart and covered me with frequently rewarmed hot blankets for several hours until I felt warm and normal.
I strongly doubt my swim lured anyone to give or take cold-water swimming lessons! But as momentarily dipping the other ear so quickly ended that spinning and saved my life, I wanted to mention this outcome to those who boat in icy Alaska waters.
Arndt von Hippel
Anchorage