Want to begin cold water immersion or dip outdoors, we’ve got you covered. With cold water swimming in the UK on the rise it is important to remain aware of the dangers when giving it a go.
Hypothermia
Swimmers can achieve hypothermia at anytime of year regardless of the water temperature.
Hypothermia develops when the core human body temperature drops below 35 degrees Celsius.
The symptoms to look out for are excessive shivering, confusion, slowed breathing, mumbled speech, fatigue and loss of consciousness.
Cold water shock
According to the Royal Life Saving Society, Cold water shock is a series of natural reactions the human body undergoes to protect itself when entering cold water. It is important to note that all bodies of water across the country are cold enough to cause Cold Water Shock.
There are three stages of cold water shock.
- Gasping for air followed by rapid breathing.
- Going pale as blood pressure rises.
- Reduction of strength and body control prevents the body from being able to swim to safety.
Items like Neoprene gloves and dry robes can help you to avoid the chill.
Drowning
The risk of drowning during Cold water swimming is significantly increased by the impacts of conditions like Cold water shock. You can also lose control of your body, as aforementioned, and have difficulty breathing, making it hard for someone to get out of the water and swim safely.
Drowning due to the impacts of Cold water shock can catch out even the most experienced swimmers, so everyone who attempts Cold water swimming must pay attention to their body temperature.
It is crucial that if a swimmer ends up in a situation where drowning is possible they should not panic as it will speed up their chances of becoming exhausted.
Afterdrop
Afterdrop is a common but lesser known consequence of swimming in cold water, . After getting out of the water you may feel fine, but then you start to get colder, sometimes growing faint, shivering violently and feeling unwell.
People who suffer from afterdrop may find their body temperature continues to decrease for as long as an hour after leaving the water.
It is essential that when leaving the water you make sure to get warm and stay warm and is a reminder that not all of the dangers of Cold water swimming end when you are back on dry land.
Pollution
In the UK, water pollution has become a serious issue and may effect where you choose to cold water swim.
In the Government’s annual water quality report last year they discovered around 60% of England’s inland swimming sites could be unsafe to use.
Therefore, it is good practice to research any places you are planning to go Cold water swimming for pollution levels in the water. If you are unsure a good place to start would be to find a local Cold water swimming group that will know more about safe places in your area.
For the four more physical dangers listed above it can also be helpful to join a group or at the very least go Cold water swimming with a group of friends so that someone can help if you get into trouble and remember to always call 999 in the case of an emergency.
For more information on cold water swimming dangers please click the links below:
Cold Water Shock: Cold Water Shock – the Facts | Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK )
Hypothermia :Hypothermia – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
General Safety Guide on Cold Water Swimming: Cold Water Swimming: A Safety Guide – NOWCA – Official website
