Immediately call for help if there are other people around. Once in the cold water, your body’s cold shock response, called the “torso reflex,"[1] X Research source will make you want to gasp for air and hyperventilate because your heart rate accelerates rapidly, but you must avoid doing so, especially if you’re underwater. [2] X Research source This initial shock typically wears off in one to three minutes as your body slightly acclimatizes to the cold. Although the initial cold shock passes, you’re still in grave danger of quickly developing hypothermia, which means your body loses heat faster than it produces it. Just a 4-degree drop in body temperature can trigger hypothermia.
Hypothermia occurs as your body temperature passes below 95°F (35°C), but it takes some time to get there and depends on many factors. [3] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Keeping your head above water and as much of your body as possible out of the water will buy you more time. Depending on multiple factors such as physical conditioning, the amount of body fat, type and layering of clothing, ambient temperature, and wind chill, it can take between 10 to 45 minutes to develop hypothermia and lose consciousness in cold water. Remove any heavy objects or clothing that are weighing you down, such as a backpack, fanny pack, or skis. This will reduce your risk of drowning.
Remaining in the water can shorten your survival time by 50%[4] X Research source Try to orient yourself to the place where you fell through the ice and lift your arms in the air as high as you can so other people see you. If underwater, always look for contrasting colors. When the ice is covered with snow, the hole will appear darker; ice without snow will make the hole look lighter. In most cases, neuromuscular cooling or “swim failure” is a bigger and more immediate concern than hypothermia. [5] X Research source In essence, most people will have between three and five minutes before the cold water incapacitates their muscles and coordination, making it very difficult or impossible to swim and kick their legs. If you are with other people, yell loudly to let them know you’ve fallen in. They may not be willing or able to help you, but at least they won’t abandon you and might be able to make an emergency call from their cellphone.
Once you’ve lifted your upper body onto the edge of the ice, wait a few seconds to let your clothes drain as much water as possible. It will reduce your weight and make it easier for you to actually propel yourself out of the water. If you’re unable to get out of the water after about 10 minutes, then you’re almost certainly not going to get out by your own efforts as swim failure and hypothermia will be upon you — but don’t panic at this stage either. If you can’t get out by yourself, conserve your energy (and heat) by moving as little as possible and wait for rescue. Cross your legs to conserve heat and try to keep your arms out of the water, as your body loses heat 32 times faster in cold water than in cold air. [7] X Research source
At the very least, roll away from the hole in the ice by several feet before attempting to stand up. If you can, trace your tracks back to shore or hard ground — it held your weight previously, so it’ll likely hold your weight again. Remember that you should always stay off ice that’s only 3 inches (7. 6 cm) thick or less, especially during warmer days when the ice is thawing. At least 4 inches (10. 2 cm) of ice thickness is needed for ice fishing, walking, or cross country skiing, whereas at least 5 – 6 inches is needed to support a snowmobile or ATV.
Ask for immediate assistance if there are people nearby. They may not have any survival or emergency medical knowledge, but they can at least help you get to a safe place and maybe call for additional help. Initial signs and symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, dizziness, hyperventilation, increased heart rate, slight confusion, difficulty speaking, clumsiness, and moderate fatigue. Signs of severe hypothermia include more advanced confusion, poor decision making, lack of coordination, violent shivering (or none at all), slurred speech or incoherent mumbling, weak pulse, shallow breathing, and progressive loss of consciousness.
If you can’t get inside, find an area sheltered from the wind or elements before removing clothing, preferably a dwelling or a vehicle. If not, then stand behind some trees, rocks, or a snowdrift to protect yourself from the additional chill of the wind. If you are only in the early stages of hypothermia and still feel like you have some excess energy, do some push-ups or basic calisthenics after removing your clothes in an attempt to warm up and improve blood flow.
If you don’t have a dwelling or vehicle to get warm in, you’ll have to make a fire. Make sure you’re out of your wet clothing and into something dry before collecting wood and making a fire. Get people to help if they’re nearby. Once you are in front of a heat source (fireplace, heat vents in a vehicle, campfire) bring your knees to your chest and keep your legs tight together to conserve your body heat. If you are with other people, huddle together in a tight circle facing each other in order to share body heat. [12] X Research source Drink a warm, sweet, non-caffeinated beverage. The mug will warm your hands and the liquid will warm your insides. If you are using heating pads or hot water bottles, place them near major arteries such as near the groin, armpits, or shoulders. Always place a barrier between the heat source and your skins to prevent any burns. [13] X Trustworthy Source Princeton University Leading academic institution devoted to expanding and sharing knowledge Go to source Extreme heat can damage your skin or trigger irregular heartbeats and a heart attack. Remember, you are trying to slowly and safely increase your core body temperature, and this can take a few hours.
