Coldwater poses danger to swimmers seeking refuge on hot days

MARSHFIELD, Mass. — Surfers and swimmers ever so slowly made their way into frigid waters in Marshfield on Tuesday as the area saw another day of temperatures in the 90s.

“It’s freezing, it was really cold. I just dunked in. It was refreshing though,” said Lauren Kearns, who took a dip to cool off.

A quick dip can be refreshing, but staying in longer could catch you off guard, according to the Marshfield harbormaster.

“But the problem is with the temperature difference of 95 degrees out and you’re going into water that’s 50, it’s more adverse of a shock to the system. It could put your body into shock,” said Michael Dimeo, who is the harbormaster in Marshfield.

>>>MORE: Another day in the 90s leaving some struggling to beat the heat

Swimmers Tuesday agreed with that advice.

“Yeah it was good, you got to just dive in and then run out. Yeah, it was pretty cold,” said Noah Monzillo, who also went swimming in Marshfield.

Coldwater is partly to blame for drownings, according to the Coast Guard. Even if the water temperature is in the 70s, you can still get hypothermia. But water in the 50s can cause what’s called the gasp reflex.

“If you’re in the water the initial reaction is to gasp because the water is so cold. If that happens you’ve taken on water and that’s where you could have a potential drowning.”

Swimming in cold water can lead to exhaustion quickly, and your body loses heat 30% faster in cold water. So, if you’re in trouble, experts say stop, conserve energy and yell for help. The bottom line is to think before you take a plunge, especially this early in the season.

“People want to go out in the water, and I can’t blame them, but you’ve got to do it safely and smartly,” Dimeo said.

©2021 Cox Media Group