What happens to the body when it's in cold water shock?: HealthLink

People around Puget Sound hear the warnings all the time, this time of year: Avoid swimming in the lakes and rivers if you can, as the water is still very cold despite warmer temperatures.

The risk is getting "cold water shock," when the body dangerously reacts to being in water that is 50 degrees and colder.

Dr. Stephen Morris, an emergency medicine physician based at UW Medicine Montlake and Harborview Medical Center, has seen such cases countless times.

"People don't realize that getting into very cold water like we have here in the northwest, can kill you within a minute," Morris said.

Morris said one of the first dangers is the involuntary gasp for air and the risk of water entering the lungs during this reaction.

"This time of year in particular, we see people that are going into the water thinking that they just want to swim and cool off and have a nice time and then end up in a really terrifying and life-threatening situation," Morris said.

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