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have you ever wondered how someone could survive being frozen for hours? in this article, we'll explore the incredible story of a man who was found frozen after hours of being outside in the frigid temperatures and was resuscitated and brought back to life. we'll take a look at the science behind this ice miracle and how it's possible to survive being frozen alive.
the ice miracle
it was a blustery winter morning in pennsylvania when don smith spotted his son's boots sticking out from under a snow drift on the side of the road. screeching his car to a halt, he rushed out into the snow and started digging his son out of the snowdrift under which he was almost completely buried. to smith's horror, his son's face was blue and he could feel no pulse or heartbeat. in a panic, he called 911 and as emergency responders braved the icy roads, he silently prepared himself for the worst. his son had been lying under a snow drift for twelve hours in minus four degree fahrenheit (-20° c) weather, how could there be any chance he would survive?
resuscitation and survival
smith was flown via helicopter to a nearby hospital where a team of doctors and nurses warmed his body and attempted unsuccessfully to restart his heart with cpr. the paramedics were unable to find any signs of life in justin smith's body, and one even draped a sheet over what was presumed to be a corpse. yet as the coroner was called and police began their investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding his death, emergency department physician gerald coleman ordered a potassium test of smith's blood, as high levels of potassium in the blood indicates that heart muscle is dying. to everyone's surprise, smith's potassium levels were normal, indicating that his heart muscle was still alive. the doctors continued to warm his body and eventually, his heart started beating again. smith had survived being frozen alive.
the science behind survival
so how did smith survive being frozen for hours? the answer lies in the science of hypothermia. when the body is exposed to cold temperatures, it goes into a state of hypothermia, which slows down the body's metabolism and reduces the amount of oxygen the body needs to survive. this means that the body can survive for longer periods of time without oxygen, which is what happened to smith. additionally, the cold temperatures helped to preserve his organs and prevent damage from occurring while he was frozen.
conclusion
the story of justin smith's survival is a true ice miracle. it's a testament to the resilience of the human body and the power of modern medicine. while it's not recommended to take naps under snowdrifts, it's comforting to know that if you do, there's a chance you could survive being frozen alive. so the next time you're out in the cold, remember to dress warmly and stay safe, but also remember that the human body is capable of incredible things.
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