Has anyone suffered hypothermia in open water swimming? How serious was that? I read some good article about it, which makes it sound something very important to consider. Also wonder if serious hypothermia, even though recovered, may have lifelong effect or not (e.g. numb hands: could the nerves be permanently damaged?). Thanks for sharing experience and knowledge.
Parents
Former Member
I wrote this post here last year about my experience getting used to cold water in Ireland & one brush with mild hypothermia.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
I've often been deeply cold and taken a long time to recover, but actual hypothermia occurs less than you'd maybe imagine. With memory loss, no co-ordination etc I was still in "mild" hypothermia. Most times I'm just really really cold. Water hasn;t gotten about 63F here in Ireland where I live in 2 years. A 4 mile race in the warm SW recently with 60 or so swimmers where it was about 65F was like heaven. Not one of us complained of cold.
I wrote this post here last year about my experience getting used to cold water in Ireland & one brush with mild hypothermia.
forums.usms.org/showthread.php
I've often been deeply cold and taken a long time to recover, but actual hypothermia occurs less than you'd maybe imagine. With memory loss, no co-ordination etc I was still in "mild" hypothermia. Most times I'm just really really cold. Water hasn;t gotten about 63F here in Ireland where I live in 2 years. A 4 mile race in the warm SW recently with 60 or so swimmers where it was about 65F was like heaven. Not one of us complained of cold.
