Importance of understanding dangers of cold water shock

With recent water tragedies in Lake Tahoe we are republishing this 2016 article.

The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.

"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is increasing their educational campaign for boaters and swimmers to understand the dangers of cold water at Lake Tahoe.

It is important for those on, and in, the lake understand the phrase "1-10-1." This refers to the three critical phases of cold water immersion.

1 - Cold Shock. An initial deep and sudden Gasp followed by hyperventilation that can be as much as 600-1000% greater than normal breathing. You must keep your airway clear or run the risk of drowning. Cold Shock will pass in about 1 minute. During that time concentrate on avoiding panic and getting control of your breathing. Wearing a lifejacket during this phase is critically important to keep you afloat and breathing.

10 - Cold Incapacitation. Over approximately the next 10 minutes you will lose the effective use of your fingers, arms and legs for any meaningful movement. Concentrate on self rescue initially, and if that isn’t possible, prepare to have a way to keep your airway clear to wait for rescue. Swim failure will occur within these critical minutes and if you are in the water without a lifejacket, drowning will likely occur.

1 - HYPOTHERMIA. Even in ice water it could take approximately 1 hour before becoming unconscious due to Hypothermia. If you understand the aspects of hypothermia, techniques of how to delay it, self rescue and calling for help, your chances of survival and rescue will be dramatically increased.

Most of the people who die in Lake Tahoe die during the first minute, mainly due to not wearing a life jacket and going under water from shock.

"Swimming ability has nothing to do with cold water shock," said Park Ranger Jay Howard of Nevada State Parks at Sand Harbor.

The top 12 inches of the lake are normally okay to swim in due to this layer warming with the sun. The water will be 68-70 by August. It is the layers that rest below this foot where people run into problems when in the lake. The next foot will be a constant 56 degrees, down to 45 degrees a few hundred feet down.

"Six feet down is a whole different ball game," said Howard

I spent a recent morning on the lake with NDOW and the two Douglas Sheriff's Office deputies who work on the County's Marine 7 boat from May through September. Deputy Ron Skibinski, and Deputy Rob Buonamici were on board, talking about their daily routine on the boat.

"Our primary responsibility is to make sure everybody goes home safe," said Buonamici. He and his partner focus on personal floatation devices (PFD) and make sure everyone on the water has one either on their person, on their paddle board, or in their boat. He reiterated Howard's comment, and that Cold Water Shock affects all people, no matter how healthy or strong they are.

A recent example of this was when University of Nevada Reno football player, 20-year-old Marc Ma, drowned after coming off of his paddle board. Growing up in Hawaii, Ma was a strong swimmer and surfer, but unaccustomed to cold water.

Ma was not wearing a life jacket, nor was 21-year-old Jawahar Kaliyamurthy who's body was found near a jet ski on June 25.

Even though the day was early, the DCSO deputies on board had already given a $90 citation to a paddle boarder near Zephyr Point who wasn't wearing or carrying a PFD. Washoe County citations for watercraft without life jackets is up to $325.

"We have no tolerance up here," said Skibinski.

Most of the time, Marine 6 gives safety briefings to those enjoying the lake. They make sure people on boats know the rules, and have the proper equipment. Most of the concessions around the lake give a safety talk before renting water equipment as well.

For those without life jackets, Sand Harbor has a PFD lending station on the boat ramp, and those working the law enforcement boats carry a supply to give to people on the lake.

"They have no idea what it feels like when they jump in the lake," said Edwin Lyngar, the NDOW Water Educator. "Life jackets are always the answer."

Lyngar said people going into the water need to do so feet first. Diving in is a "totally different ball game," he said.

When a swimmer's head goes under cold water they will have an involuntary gasp. The gasp brings water into the lungs. More chances of survival when that first gasp is above water, the reason for going in feet first.

Lyngar's job is to inform the public about the dangers of Cold Water Shock, and how the beliefs that hypothermia kills people in Tahoe have shifted to understanding the danger of Cold Water Shock.

"Take your time getting used to the water. It's perfectly safe. You've just got to be aware of what can happen," Howard said. "Cold water shock is the first minute and we've all experienced that where we jumped in and we feel the cold water and we take that involuntary gasp."

Most of the drownings on Lake Tahoe happen in minutes or even seconds. The best way for boaters, paddlers and swimmers to stay safe is to always wear a life jacket. Even if a boater or paddler does not expect to enter the water, they should prepare for the unexpected.

Some tips to stay safe on Lake Tahoe include:

- Never swim alone.
- Tell a friend or file a "float plan" before boating, swimming or paddling.
- Check the weather for wind conditions http://www.weather.gov/ before going out.
- Know your swimming limitations and always wear a life jacket when boating.
- Never operate a boat under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Never jump into cold water and always prepare for accidental immersion.

Keeping people safe at Lake Tahoe is a multiple agency task including South Lake Tahoe Police, El Dorado County Sheriff, Douglas County Sheriff, Placer County Sheriff, Washoe County Sheriff, Nevada State Parks, Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and TRPA. They all have boats on the lake to both educate, monitor and enforce.