Don’t let the Texas heat fool you – the waters off the coast can actually get quite cold in the winter. While water temps tend to hover around 86F in July and August, temperatures plummet to about 53F in January.
Those chilly waters bring increased risks to maritime workers and others because the possibility of hypothermia is very real after even a brief time in the water.
How fast does hypothermia set in?
The onset of hypothermia in cold water depends on several factors, including water temperature, the duration of exposure, your body type, clothing and your physical condition.
If someone goes overboard in the middle of summer when the water is warm, they can survive indefinitely without fear of hypothermia. However, every 10-degree drop in temperature generally leads to a much greater chance of exhaustion and unconsciousness. Water sucks heat away from a person’s body 26 times faster than air, and the odds are high that a victim in 50-degree water will only remain unharmed for a maximum of 15 minutes. (That drops to about nine minutes if they don’t have a life jacket on.)
Once hypothermia begins to set in and the victim’s core body temperature starts to drop, they will generally lose coordination and strength, and drowning becomes a bigger risk. As the condition progresses, the victim may begin to slur their speech and exhibit confusion. Even once someone is pulled from the water, the drop in their blood pressure from the cold shock can lead to post-rescue collapses and cardiac arrest. Long-term damage to their internal organs is also highly probable.
If you or a loved one suffers hypothermia-related injuries in a boating accident, there may be compensation available through maritime laws. Legal guidance is wise.