RESEARCH:

“Float first and kick for your life”: Psychophysiological basis for safety behaviour on accidental short-term cold water immersion

UNIVERSITY OR ORGANISATION: Northumbria University, James Cook University Hospital

Accidental cold-water immersion (CWI) evokes the life threatening cold shock response (CSR) which increases the risk of drowning. Consequently, the safety behaviour selected is critical in determining survival; the present advice is to ‘float first’ and remain stationary (i.e. rest). This study examined whether leg only exercise (i.e., treading water; ‘CWI-Kick’) immediately on CWI could reduce the symptoms of the CSR, offset the reduction in cerebral blood flow that is known to occur and reduce the CSR's symptoms of breathlessness. They also examined whether perceptual responses instinctive to accidental CWI were exacerbated by this alternative behaviour.

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