Participant safety is our biggest priority. Therefore, we ask that all swimmers and kayakers familiarize themselves with hypothermia and what to do if a swimmer is experiencing signs.
Hypothermia is medically defined as the point at which your body temperature falls below 95 degrees Fahrenheit; hypothermia can result in mental disorientation, physical fatigue and even drowning in extreme cases.
Wetsuits are a great solution to prevent hypothermia and can result in a much more pleasant and long-lasting swim. If you have not trained without a wetsuit in open water ocean swims, it is not advisable to do this on race day.
The most important thing to remember when starting a race in cold water is to stay calm and prepare yourself for the shock of the water temperature. There will be a swim warm up at 8:15am. Get in the cold water before the start, you can stand still and slowly control your breathing and relax your arms, shoulders and back muscles. When you stop feeling shocked, do a few strokes with your face in the water and exit.
When you return to the water for your race, you will know what to expect and your body will have already dropped in temperature slightly as a result of your recent dip. You will be better prepared to avoid hypothermia.
Most hypothermia occurs in waters cooler than 60 degrees. Contrary to popular belief, increased strenuous activity (like sprinting) does not warm up your body temperature and help deter the onset of hypothermia. The best way to condition your body to cold water is to train in it.
Here are a few ways you can tell if you, or your swimmer, is suffering from hypothermia:
Mild hypothermia: uncontrollable shivering and numbness, loss of simple coordination, muscle pain.
Moderate hypothermia: confusion and strange inebriated-like behavior, slurred speech, muscles stiffen.
Severe hypothermia: blue-gray skin, slow or halted breathing, loss of consciousness.
During an ocean swim, if you begin to feel the effects of mild hypothermia, one trick is to count to 10 and then back to one, over and over again. If you lose your train of thought or lose count, it is time to exit the water and get help because you are slowly losing your mental capacity.
If you are feeling onset of hypothermia, let your kayaker know. Kayaker, please signal SWIMMER IN DISTRESS by waving your paddle and blowing your whistle in multiple of threes. Swimmer should receive extra lifejacket at this time. Someone will come to your aid. If you are alone, please have a kayaker wave their hands in the air or tell someone near you.
Once you exit the water, immediately dry off and swaddle yourself in towels, sweats and a hat if possible. A severely hypothermic swimmer may need medical attention, but should be dried and warmed up as quickly as possible, concentrating on the extremities. Make sure the victim stays conscious and communicative, at least until medical attention arrives.
Remember, as frightening as hypothermia sounds, the most important thing to do is to pay attention to how your body feels in the water and be prepared in case you need to act. If you begin to feel cold, take time to make a rational decision as to what your next move should be. In many instances, slight hypothermia has been known to pass during a race and disappear without further hindering an athlete’s performance.