Cold Water Boot Camp

Volunteers experience the 3 effects of cold water immersion - cold shock, cold incapacitation & hypothermia. Learn how to survive a fall into cold water.

• Category

  Education

[officialitaliano]

I have seen many charts comparing water temperature vs. hypothermic-related unconsciousness/death, but I have not found any comparing water temperature vs. incapacitation time. Do you know if such tables exist?

[NASBLASafeBoating]

The curve most commonly used that shows the fall of body core temperature against time, and with hypothermia signs and symptoms is based on Dr. Frank Goldens’ empirical curve developed in 1973.

While there are some other predictive curves out there, most address estimation of survival time in relation to water temperature. There are none I know of that specifically address the pre-hypothermia stages of initial reaction/cold shock or short term responses/swim failure.

[Krystal Funk]

Question can one not float on there back after a certain point?

[NASBLASafeBoating]

When a person is immersed in cold water without a life jacket on, there are limits to how long a person can keep themselves afloat - regardless of what swimming (or floating) technique is used.

[lilvjdude]

This is one of the top 10 things in the world I would not volunteer for.

[fishyaker]

Thanks for posting!!! Great info!!!

[Rob Gillaspie]

great video guys. I survived 45 degree water last week on Feb 20, 2013 for an hour and 15 mins, without a life vest. I don't know how, but I am here today. got blown out of a bass boat running 70 mph....

[catherinespark]

That's why, assuming your heart keeps beating, you allow a minute to get under control - nobody expects you to react instantaneously - as you say, it's impossible.

[catherinespark]

Probably the ones without a lifebelt didn't get their swimming under control, inhaled water, went into instinctive drowning responses and died. Or else, got their swimming under control but drowned due to cold incapacitation. The ones with lifebelts stayed afloat even when incapacitated, but weren't able to move/call out so couldn't alert the lifeboat, even if they did stay conscious long enough for Lowe to come back. Even out the water they were wet so hypothermia could continue once rescued.

[omrill1]

this is the way the people dyed in the titanic right?

[goingplaces11]

Scary

[Brennan Rouhana]

I CAN'T IMAGINE HOW IT FEELS

[skiie]

that initial shock is deadly. like it hits faster than anyone can react.

[slipperyox]

? go rescue people not kill them if you want respect dude