Need recommendation for keeping warm in a cold pool

This is great information.  Thanks.  

I had an issue over the weekend:  I swam at a meet and had to stop competing because of shivering and turning blue.  I'm also lean.  I had a towel and a hoodie to dry off in between heats.  Anything else I can do to stay warm at a meet and avoid hypothermia?

This is great information.  Thanks.  

I had an issue over the weekend:  I swam at a meet and had to stop competing because of shivering and turning blue.  I'm also lean.  I had a towel and a hoodie to dry off in between heats.  Anything else I can do to stay warm at a meet and avoid hypothermia?

Dave asked that I share his response with you: 

In addition to pool water temps. being very cold,  air temps. in Natatoriums are fridged! 

Difficult for me to stay warm because I swim  six Events per Meet so constantly in the Pool

warming up, racing, then warming down; if I can use the word "warming" in front of up & down. 

With the short amount of time I am on the pool deck, I can't wear my warm-ups because

I'm toweling off with a Sham Wow, downing an Energy Drink & Cereal Bar then messaging my

entire body with a Massage Gun. Not uncommon though to be back up on the Blocks for the

next Event after warming down. I drape a large beach towel over me after the massage a

few heats prior to my Event before going behind the blocks a heat or two prior to my Event.

If the Swim Meet is an all-dayer, here is what I do to raise my core temperature so try these

recommendations. 1) stretch in a hot shower after warming down from Swimming an Event.

2) If the Facility has a Sauna, stretch in there; even wearing your warm-ups. 3) If the Facility 

has a Whirlpool, stretch and soak in that for 10 - 15 minutes; without wearing your warm-ups. 

Have a "Time Range" for each Event you Swim so you "try" not to get "too" frustrated & aggravated

because you didn't Swim a set "Goal Time" because your Muscles are tight and you're

shivering from being stinkin' cold. So if you're Time is at the high-end of your Par Time, 

that would be acceptable under these condition at this particular Meet. Of course I don't apply

that logic to an Event where Seed Times for all Swimmers in my Age Group are very close

and I must Swim one of my fastest times to win the Race.

Also, when you Swim multiple Events, since the Event Order is different for each Meet, rule of Thumb

is to pick an Event or two for the Meet you really want to Swim a fast time or win the Event; try

selecting the first Event or two before Hypothermia affects you as the Meet progresses.

"Swim"cerely,

Dave 

Thanks.  I'm going to print this out, study it and review it prior to the next meet.

Greg