Oppo PSA: Beware of Cold Water in the Spring

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired) 04/03/2019 at 14:07 • Filed to: be safe out there

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Please remember that in springtime, the water can be extremely cold, even if the air temperature is not. Always wear your PFD and don’t get in/go out on the water unless you are dressed for the cold, as cold shock can be fatal. Yes, wetsuits and drysuits are dorky and uncomfortable, but its better to look ridiculous than to be dead. Was out walking with kids the other day, and thought the local FD was practicing rescues at the lake. Heard today that a 28-year old had gone into the water to chase after a dog that had jumped in the water (it was over 80 here that day). The dog was fine, but his owner did not survive, succumbing to cold shock.

If someone needs rescued and you don’t have the equipment to assist, call 911, and use branches/ropes etc. to assist. If a person falls in, and survives the initial cold shock, you have a few minutes even in very cold water (and much more - hours - if they are wearing a PFD) where the person will be ok - just keep them calm and don’t become the second victim.

HammerheadFistpunch > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:12

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I've got more than a little experience with cold water and the above risks and have been near hypothermia at least once. it's unpleasant

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:13

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I will stay on land, thank you.

Ash78, voting early and often > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:16

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You know what would be more effective would be to just say “10 - your dick permanently loses sensation”

Not even kidding. We could almost put an end to hypothermia with this.

someassemblyrequired > HammerheadFistpunch 04/03/2019 at 14:20

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Yeah it’s definitely best avoided in general. 

someassemblyrequired > KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time 04/03/2019 at 14:20

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You’re missing the fun, you just need to be prepared.

Mercedes Streeter > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:20

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Fantastic advice!

My Lake Michigan swim season is generally the last day of April to early-ish October. Water under 70F needs to be treated with caution. If I’m lucky, the water will have reached 50 by the last day in April and even then, 30 minutes of swimming at the most before I have to tap out and lay in the sun. It’s much easier at the end of season as the water will often be warmer than the outside air.

My cold tolerance is all fecked up like that. I basically keep my apartment refrigerated through the winter, too. lol

CompactLuxuryFan > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:23

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The Cold Incapacitation and Hypothermia texts in the image are the same :/ Otherwise great info!

KingT- 60% of the time, it works every time > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:23

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I mean, until Summer.

someassemblyrequired > CompactLuxuryFan 04/03/2019 at 14:25

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Thanks, will find a different graphic & replace.

someassemblyrequired > Mercedes Streeter 04/03/2019 at 14:42

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Apparently cold water swimmers end up with vastly different physiological  responses to cold , so I guess that makes sense... Though I’m not going to self-experiment, even if it saves on heating bills.

functionoverfashion > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 14:43

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I have two wetsuits and a full drysuit, and have been known to wear my wetsuit into June when doing watersports late in the day. I have always preferred looking dorky to being hypothermic or dead. Function > f ashion FTW!

I’ve also spent a lot of time around open water / ice both early and late in the season. It really is amazing how unpleasant very cold water is. Even if you just stick your HAND in, and hold it there for a minute or two. 

someassemblyrequired > Ash78, voting early and often 04/03/2019 at 14:44

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Something like:

10 - irreversible Turtling occurs

someassemblyrequired > functionoverfashion 04/03/2019 at 14:51

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username definitely checks out...

Yeah people also forget that most wetsuits also give you extra buoyancy which means it’s like a Stage I upgrade for your PFD as well.

Yeah I lived right on one of the great lakes for a few years. C old water is not pleasant, 0/10 do not recommend.

just-a-scratch > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 17:27

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OK, I guess I’m going to be that guy .  C old water is dangerous. I’ve been hypothermic before. I’ve been in 38°F water before. I get that. However, I’m pretty skeptical about the timing involved here.

“... those who fall in cold water die in the first minute... ”

Isn’t it pretty rare for someone to stop breathing and have their heart stop inside of one minute without some physical trauma?

someassemblyrequired > just-a-scratch 04/03/2019 at 19:50

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Well your blood pressure and heart rate will certainly spike, which could trigger a heart issue, but I suspect the sudden death has more to do with your respiration rate going through the roof - it’s probably easy to breathe in a pile of water, especially if you don’t have a PFD to keep your head above water and you’re panicking .

just-a-scratch > someassemblyrequired 04/03/2019 at 21:45

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My point is that hypoxia and shock do not stop the heart instantly.

Those f actors do stop a person from swimming VERY QUICKLY.

someassemblyrequired > just-a-scratch 04/03/2019 at 22:45

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True enough, but if you’ve aspirated water swimming failure is kind of the least of your worries.