A Guide to Coldwater Safety
Introduction
Though the risk of hypothermia is present in long-term immersion, the majority of open water immersion deaths happen rapidly, often within the first three minutes. The single most dangerous element of open water swimming is Cold Shock. This is a rapid, involuntary physical reaction (gasping, racing heart) that peaks immediately upon entering cold water (within the first 30 seconds). The following safety guide is based on expert research from Professor Mike Tipton and colleagues, developed to directly address the sharp increase in cold water immersion accidents and fatalities seen across the UK.
