How to Reduce Body Heat Loss in Water
Since you can lose body heat so quickly, hypothermia in water is quite deadly and can come on in as little as 15 minutes in extreme circumstances. To avoid hypothermia setting in, you should reduce the loss of body heat as much as possible.
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Instructions
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Reduce the Loss of Body Heat in Water
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Wear a wet or dry suit, neoprene lined clothing or waterproof outer layer. Fleece, nylon and wool layers will remain too damp after a fall into water and do little to reduce heat loss in the water.
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Cover your fingers or hands with gloves to help reduce heat loss when working in or around water. If you need to use your fingers, as when fishing, choose fingerless gloves that allow for more dexterity while providing a bit of warmth.
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Use a life jacket at all times. The life jacket will help keep you afloat in cold water, even as hypothermia sets in. Without a life jacket, you may inhale cold water, which could lead to drowning or shock.
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Try to control your breathing. As hypothermia sets in, uncontrolled rapid breathing can cause loss of consciousness or lead to poor circulation--both of which can lead to rapid loss of body heat.
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Do not swim unless shore, a boat or a life raft are nearby. The more energy you use, the more body heat you lose. Instead, rely on your personal flotation device or life jacket.
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Huddle together if two or more of you are in the water together. This will help conserve body heat for the group.
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Tips & Warnings
If someone falls into water, remove her as soon as possible and get her dry and warm. The longer she stays in the water or in wet clothes, the more body heat she will lose.
Carry dry clothing in a plastic bag whenever you go boating or fishing. If you do fall into the water, you should change you clothes immediately.
If you have a personal flotation device, get into the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP), which consists holding your arms tightly against your sides and across your chest and then pulling your legs together and up toward your chest.
Children lose body heat much quicker than adults, and can suffer from hypothermia in warm water in as little as 2 hours.
When rescuing someone else from cold water, try to minimize his physical movement as much as possible. If the legs and arms start to warm too quickly because they are moved, cardiac arrest can result.
