When someone is immersed in cold water, such as an employee of a deep-sea fishing company who falls overboard in a storm, they are going to go through three critical stages. These can have a major impact on the type of injuries they suffer and whether or not it is a fatal event.
It is very important never to underestimate extreme conditions at sea. The three crucial stages are as follows:
The first five minutes
For the first five minutes, one of the largest hazards the person faces is just the immediate shock. The cold shock response can cause them to gasp, which can make even a strong swimmer swallow water. When people pass away within this stage, it is often from drowning or perhaps the onset of a heart attack due to the sudden change.
The next 15 minutes
The next stage is when a person starts to lose their ability to swim or float, often because they have inhaled water or just from the sheer temperature of the water. As their physical abilities diminish, it can lead to drowning. This is why a quick response from those still on the boat is necessary.
The final 30 minutes
Finally, a person’s core body temperature begins to drop over the next 30 minutes, even if they have not inhaled water and are able to keep swimming. If they get to roughly 36.1°C, it can start to affect muscle tone, coordination and much more. This is when hypothermia can set in, a very dangerous condition, even if the person is retrieved from the water.
Being suddenly immersed in cold water is one of the major hazards that people face when working in many maritime industries. Those who have suffered severe injuries or lost loved ones need to know what legal options they have after the accident.