Cold water can kill in many ways
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ArcticDiver
Contributor
Well...if a person survives the initial shock of the cold water (I'm told the shock is severe enough to cause the heart to go bananas) it all depends.
We've had stories of people swim some amazing distances and times with little or no cold water protection. On the other hand there have been people who have expired very shortly after immersion. I suspect a lot of the result depends on the Blubber Factor and the Mental Attitude.
Of course any water temp colder than body temp is by definition cold water. So, it is just a matter of time before a person's body is overwhelmed.
We've had stories of people swim some amazing distances and times with little or no cold water protection. On the other hand there have been people who have expired very shortly after immersion. I suspect a lot of the result depends on the Blubber Factor and the Mental Attitude.
Of course any water temp colder than body temp is by definition cold water. So, it is just a matter of time before a person's body is overwhelmed.
Warthaug
Contributor
Cold water is a tricky mistress, as is the hypothermia which follows it. Having been through multiple first aid and rescue courses, as well as cold weather training, it amazes me how well our bodies can adapt to cold, and how our attempts to treat hypothermia can kill.
For example, those fishermen brought up in the beginning of the thread. I don't have the details, but it sounds a lot like a common problem - warming the extremities before the core. When you become hypothermic your body limits blood flow to your extremities, in an attempt to keep your core warm. However, rub or warm those extremities and you cause dilation of their blood vessels, and all that cold blood to floods back into your core.
Bam, you're done for.
Bryan
For example, those fishermen brought up in the beginning of the thread. I don't have the details, but it sounds a lot like a common problem - warming the extremities before the core. When you become hypothermic your body limits blood flow to your extremities, in an attempt to keep your core warm. However, rub or warm those extremities and you cause dilation of their blood vessels, and all that cold blood to floods back into your core.
Bam, you're done for.
Bryan
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