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Red Cross Survival Techniques in Cold Water

Being cold and dry is uncomfortable enough, but imagine being in icy water with cold air temperatures as well. The body chills to the core very quickly in such a situation, resulting in cold shock, cold incapacity, hypothermia and eventual death. The Canadian Red Cross has a list of strategies to help people survive cold water emergencies until help arrives.

  1. Clothing

    • Start any outing correctly dressed. The Red Cross recommends wearing multiple layers of dry clothing and suggests wool for some of the layers. Even when wet, wool insulates well. Wear a wool hat, wool socks, and mittens rather than gloves. The hat helps retain body heat, since as much as 60 percent of body heat escapes through the head. The final outer layer should be a wind or waterproof garment, and a life jacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD) should be worn. Some PFDs help insulate when in cold water. When you know you'll be on or over cold water, such as sailing or snowmobiling on ice, wearing an immersion suit is a reasonable precaution.

    Get Out of the Water

    • Get out of the water as quickly as possible, because the body looses heat slower in air than in water. Climb onto a boat or dock or onto a rock or log. It takes very little time--about 10 minutes--for the body to become cold enough so rational thinking declines and purposeful body movement is difficult. Even getting partially out of the water helps.

    Conserve Airway

    • Before you loose the ability to move and think well, secure yourself in a position so that you can breathe even if you become unconscious. Many cold water deaths are due to drowning rather than hypothermia. Having a self-righting PFD helps a great deal.

    Conserve Body Temperature

    • If you must remain in the water and you are wearing a PFD, assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position or HELP position. Cross your arms over your chest and draw your knees up to your chest. Don't make any unnecessary movements, as this just uses body heat that is needed to maintain the temperature of vital body organs. The Red Cross estimates this can increase your survival time by 50 percent. If there are several people in the water with PFDs, they can gather together to conserve body heat in a maneuver called huddling. Keep people's chest and sides as close as possible and lock legs and hug each other. This also increases survival rates by 50 percent.

    Summon Help

    • Even if you left behind a plan and destination with people, it can be difficult for rescuers to locate someone during an emergency. Attach a whistle to your PFD and use it to signal your position. Carry waterproof matches not only to light a fire if you make it to shore but also to serve as a locator.

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