Cold Water Shock

 

 

Cold Water Shock

Cold water shock is a condition which affects the body when entering cold water, this can happen even if you intentionally enter the water.
A large percentage of drowning in open water are actually caused by cold water shock.


What is cold water?

Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement, so the risk is significant most of the year.
Average UK and Ireland sea temperatures are just 12°C. Rivers such as the Thames are colder - even in the summer.

What happens?

When a person is immersed in cold water, the blood vessels in the skin close, this increases the resistance of blood flow and the heart rate is also increased.
As a result the heart has to work harder and your blood pressure goes up. Cold water shock can therefore cause heart attacks, even in the relatively young and healthy.

The sudden cooling of the skin by cold water also causes an involuntary gasp for breath. Breathing rates can increase as much as tenfold.
All these responses contribute to a feeling of panic, increasing the chance of inhaling water directly into the lungs.

An adult can start drowning if 1/2 pint of water enters the lungs.

These symptoms usually last around a minute.

What can you do?

• Do not jump in to water, enter slowly
• Wear a wet suit

If affected by Cold Water Shock

• Try to stay calm
• Relax and allow to body to float

Symptoms usually disappear after around 1 minute.


Brought to you by: SaFA Training & Consultancy Ltd

Dry Drowning (What is it and how to recognise it)

Dry or secondary drowning can occur hours after an individual inhales water or experiences a near drowning experience in or underwater.

The individual may appear to be recovered, but the inhaled water is absorbed into the lungs and can damage the membranes necessary to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

It’s important to understand that secondary drowning is extremely rare and that properly supervised swimming is still a fun and healthy activity for kids.

It’s important to be vigilant however. The symptoms to watch out for included bouts of coughing and wheezing and gasping for air or lethargy.

It is good to remember that this is quite rare. If someone who has been through a near-drowning experience is going to struggle to breathe, it normally happens immediately.

It is recommended to monitor someone, particularly a child, for five to eight hours, and up to 48 hours afterwards to make sure the breathing is normal.

SaFA Training & Consultancy Ltd
www.safatraining.co.uk