Dangers Of Cold Water Swimming
Lauren Collison December 8th, 2020 Posted In: Articles
Dangers Of Cold Water Swimming
Swimming and other water activities are great exercises that help you stay in shape from your head to your toes. When done correctly, swimming can exercise up to 48 muscles in your body. It’s a true full-body workout which is why many people want to swim year-round no matter the temperature of the air or water.
Kayaking, canoeing, paddleboarding, boating, and white water rafting are all very popular water activities that most want to do year-round. Some may disregard the temperature of water to enjoy these activities.
Swimming in cold water dangers includes hypothermia, shock, and loss of muscle control which can lead to drowning as well as health issues.
Hypothermia
Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. The most common causes of hypothermia are exposure to cold-weather conditions or cold water.
Cold Water Shock
Cold water drains body heat up to 25 times faster than cold air. When cold water makes contact with your skin, the cold shock causes an immediate loss of breathing control. This dramatically increases the risk of sudden drowning even if the water is calm and you know how to swim. The danger is even greater if the water is rough. Immersion in cold water is immediately life-threatening for anyone not wearing thermal protection, like a wetsuit or drysuit, and not wearing a life jacket.
Cold water shock causes the blood vessels in the skin to close, which increases the resistance of blood flow. 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.
More on Dangers of Cold Water Swimming
Cold water can be found anywhere and warm weather conditions can be deceiving. Water temperatures can remain chilly while air temperatures are warm. Warm air can give swimmers a false sense of security regarding the water temperature. It is best to be prepared when going swimming, kayaking, surfing, or paddle-boarding.
Cold Water Safety
Water doesn’t have to be extremely cold to cause hypothermia. Any water that’s colder than normal body temperature causes heat loss. The following tips may increase your survival time in cold water if you accidentally fall in:
- Wear a wetsuit. A wetsuit is designed to provide the wearer with a layer of fabric, usually neoprene, between themselves and the cold water. Wetsuits are not designed to keep the wearer’s body completely dry but are meant to provide a layer of warmth.
- Wear a life jacket. If you plan to ride in a watercraft, wear a life jacket. A life jacket can help you stay alive longer in cold water by enabling you to float without using energy and by providing some insulation. Keep a whistle attached to your life jacket to signal for help.
- Get out of the water if possible. Get out of the water as much as possible, such as climbing onto a capsized boat or grabbing onto a floating object.
- Don’t attempt to swim unless you’re close to safety. Unless a boat, another person, or a life jacket is close by, stay put. Swimming will use up energy and may shorten survival time.
Why a wetsuit is the best prevention for the dangers of cold water
Wetsuits help maintain body temperature and add a protective layer to your skin. Despite the cold water, your body temperature with wetsuits will be higher than it is without a wetsuit. The protective layer of neoprene allows you to freely enjoy your water activity without the fear of hypothermia or cold water shock.
Many water athletes like to stay active with the sport year-round, even when temperatures drop in both air and water. Wetsuits make paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, and boating in cold temperatures a more pleasant experience by providing a barrier between yourself and the water, giving a layer of warmth and added protection for the skin.
In conclusion, wetsuits are a great addition to anyone who enjoys the activities on the water. The wet suits keep your body temperature warm in colder climates to allow you to enjoy the fun you have out on the water.
