Cold Water Swimming Safety

Swimming is a fitness activity that works every muscle in the body. Open water swimming can be even more invigorating than swimming in a pool. However, open water swimming in cold water can be dangerous. If you are considering a swim in cold water, it's important to educate yourself before getting wet.

  1. Safety

    • Cold water robs the body of heat approximately 32 times faster than cold air does. Swimming alone in cold water is never a good idea. Find someone to go with you or swim near a guarded beach and stay close enough so the lifeguard can see you. If you have to swim alone, make sure someone knows exactly where you are, what time you will start swimming and what time you're expected to finish.

    Gear

    • Proper swimming gear will make all the difference. A wetsuit, a swim cap and goggles are a must. Wet suits and swim caps are made of neoprene, which is a rubber often used as insulation. Wetsuits trap water between your body and the neoprene wetsuit, and then your body quickly warms up that water to keep you warm. Get a wetsuit that fits properly; it should be tight, with no loose or baggy areas. Other cold water swimming gear includes earplugs, swim gloves, a swim hood and swim socks.

    Preparation

    • Practice swimming in a pool before trying an open water swim, and definitely before an open water swim in cold water. This will help perfect your technique and let you practice breathing properly. Before going for a swim in cold, open water, always check the weather and the temperature of the water. Finally, be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia.

    Hypothermia

    • Hypothermia is a common side effect of swimming in cold water. Hypothermia occurs when your core body temperature drops below 95 F. Symptoms can be as mild as shivering and as extreme as skin turning blue and puffy. Hypothermia is life-threatening, so if you start to experience these symptoms while swimming, you should address them immediately.

    What to Do

    • If you start experiencing any of the symptoms of hypothermia while swimming in cold water, get out of the water and get to a warm place as soon as possible. If for some reason you cannot get out of the water, move as slowly as possible and don't panic. Physical exercise, such as swimming, will cause the body to lose heat much faster than staying still.