I very much doubt you'll find a definitive on this. I'll give you my thoughts.

There will not be set time of year as weather is not that predictable and water temp has many variables.

You might only wear a dry suit in the colder months though though or you'd get very hot. You'd want that more for protecting you from the spray when using the ski/boat than anything. In water a wet suit is fine as long as you're moving about. Neoprene hood might be OTT. I never wear one of them for watersports.

Immersion shock can happen at any time of year really as it's the change in temperature that is the problem. On a hot day cold water can be a problem due to the shock to the system.

Hypothermia is unlikely to develop in 5 mins in our water IMO. Need to make sure thay warm up as soon as they get out.

Try British Waterski for a better answer. They've helped me in the past. Similar issues I suspsect.

Try this it may help

http://www.leoblockley.o...ia-for-coaches-clubs.pdf


Regards Dave

Though I'm no expert on the subject matter ('out of my depth' is probably a more apt phrase for this topic) I think Clairel makes very valid points, e.g. about the relative contrast between air temperature and water temperature at whatever time and season, etc. the immersion will occur.

Forum users who saw the final episode of the TV series "71 Degrees North" broadcast during Autumn 2010 will recall the finalists swimming below thick ice covering a lake and between large holes cut in the ice. They each wore a dry suit and could be rapidly pulled out of the water by means of a rope, and were monitored by at least one experienced diver who was in the water during the session. Also, viewers were told that the contestants had been medically checked before the session. They were assessed for hypothermia each time they came up for air (by being asked a series of questions which seemed to significantly prolong their duration in the water and associated loss of heat) and were probably monitored afterwards as well. Viewers weren't told what arrangements were made regarding the safety of the accompanying diver/s, but there's a good chance that some were made to avoid any problems which might come to the attention of the media and reap bad publicity.

Okay the above measures seemed appropriate for the Norwegian lake scenario, but would be over the top (OTT) for the Thames river and estuary, and similar waters in the UK. Appropriate measures probably include some sort of pre-activity health questionnaire, and perhaps medical check as well, for participants. No doubt they'll be wearing lifejackets/buoyancy aids, and the organisers should have suitable rescue procedures. Also, bearing in mind the concentrations of sewage liable to be encountered in the water, consideration should be given to the risk of contracting infections through inevitable accidental ingestion of contaminated water. For example, David Walliams suffered bad stomach infections during and after his recent epic fund-raising swim down the Thames. As part of being made aware of the infection risk, participants should know when and where to seek appropriate medical advice if they think they have contracted an infection.

Congratulations; as to the answers given herein - this shows just how good the quality of this site can be


If it is foreseeable that a capsize can happen then some quality training should be given with regards to capsize so as people would know what to do if such an event happened noting that is the person we are concerned about and not the kit! And if the training was a desk top exercise only I would say that the training is not suitable and sufficient

More and more I note that the 'what to do in an emergency' aspects of many such areas are being dropped or at best being undertaken as a desk top exercise only which is a dangerous thing to do for the trainer

Tony.




I have been delivering waterspouts coaching for some time and in Scotland.

There are a lot of good answers here. I would add the following.

In my opinion the two months before and after the new year are too cold for spending 5 minutes in the water outside. Even now in October and March are arguable.

If your delegates are wearing dry suits they will still get cold and loose heat to the water, not as quick as just in neoprene or ordinary clothes. Moreover, it will depend on the layering they have on beneath their dry suite. However, five minutes in the water and extremities will go first; hands and little fingers. If you need to do fiddly operations after getting out of the water then at that time of year digits will get cold and quick. Functionality will degrade rapidly.

However, the flip side of the coin is that people need to experience the conditions of cold also. I agree with this but will try and do my training and basic skills in the warmer weather then go on to develop their skills in the colder periods, building up a resistance, more so to the gag reflex!

That said its back to basics, our fried risk assessment. Yes take into account the cold, water, weather, wind, location, where the nearest warm building is / car, first aid. Personal equipment; layering, dry suite (and it needs to be a dry suit), wet suit, age, ability, medical issues, experience etc. Staff; experience, skill set, safety gear, knowledge of area and access to warm buildings /cars.

Again, in my experience whilst people will rock up and will want to do the tuition. In really cold days they switch off, do not listen and their minds wander to warmer thoughts.