JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to be stranded at sea.
As day six of the search for two firefighters lost at sea comes to an end, every hour is critical.
Action News Jax spoke to local doctors about what it takes to survive at sea.
Dr. Andrew Schmidt, with University of Florida Health, said humans need food, water and shelter from the heat to survive.
He said an average person can survive about three days without any freshwater.
The doctor said drinking salt water would be harmful and could cause kidney failure.
“It’s also going to severely dehydrate the person and make them require more freshwater,” Schmidt said.
- Dozens of firefighters help search for two men who went missing while fishing
- "This is a bread crumb they threw overboard": Missing firefighter's tackle bag found by boater
- Photos: Local firefighters to continue search for two missing boaters
- 'We're not giving up until these guys are found:' Search to continue for missing firefighters
- Missing boater's wife helps search by air as rescue efforts continue off Florida coast
- Missing firefighters: 180 volunteers searching off Jacksonville's coast
- Discovery of missing firefighter's tackle-bag helps steer search
- Wife of missing Jacksonville firefighter joins search for husband, friend
- Volunteers in Georgia join efforts to find firefighters lost at sea as search expands
- How to help in the search for missing firefighters lost at sea off Florida Coast
- Volunteer boater recounts covering hundreds of miles in search for missing firefighters
- Pilot searching for firefighters lost at sea says this is some of the hardest flying he's done
With no food, Schmidt said an average person can go for three weeks.
Dehydration, heat stroke and hypothermia, if the firefighters are in the water, are constant threats as days pass by.
Hypothermia means an abnormally low body temperature.
If an individual’s body temperature is too low, it affects the brain which leads to poor cognitive and physical abilities.
“Now you’re not making decisions correctly,” Dr. Schmidt said. “You’re not able to physically do maneuvers that may help to save your life.”
It’s not just the physical fatigue that sets in, but Dr. Justin Mann, an interventional pain medicine specialist, said there’s also the mental aspect.
“When you’re in a stressful situation like this, the mental game becomes almost most important part,” Mann said.
As each hour and day goes by, surviving at sea grows more demanding physically and mentally, but Doctor Mann said these firefighters have what it takes.
“If anyone could survive a difficult mental game, then two firefighters who were trained in stressful, strenuous situations with a focus on survival have the best chance,” Mann said.
Information on how you can help in the search can be found on JFRD.com.
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on this breaking story
Cox Media Group
