title: Swim performance and thermoregulatory effects of wearing clothing in a simulated cold-water survival situation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Accidental cold-water immersion (CWI) impairs swim performance, increases drowning risk and often occurs whilst clothed. The impact of clothing on thermoregulation and swim performance during CWI was explored with the view of making recommendations on whether swimming is viable for self-rescue; contrary to the traditional recommendations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten unhabituated males (age 24 (4) years; height 1.80 (0.08) m; mass 78.50 (10.93) kg; body composition 14.8 (3.4) fat %) completed four separate CWIs in 12 °C water. They either rested clothed or naked (i.e. wearing a bathing costume) or swum self-paced clothed or naked for up to 1 h. Swim speed, distance covered, oxygen consumption and thermal responses (rectal temperature (T re), mean skin temperature (T msk) and mean body temperature T b) were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When clothed, participants swum at a slower pace and for a significantly shorter distance (815 (482) m, 39 (19) min) compared to when naked (1264 (564) m, 52 (18) min), but had a similar oxygen consumption indicating clothing made them less efficient. Swimming accelerated the rate of T msk and T b cooling and wearing clothing partially attenuated this drop. The impairment to swimming performance caused by clothing was greater than the thermal benefit it provided; participants withdrew due to exhaustion before hypothermia developed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Swimming is a viable self-rescue method in 12 °C water, however, clothing impairs swimming capability. Self-rescue swimming could be considered before clinical hypothermia sets in for the majority of individuals. These suggestions must be tested for the wider population.
authors.affiliation: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Spinnaker Building, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, England, UK.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bowes
authors.affiliation: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Spinnaker Building, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, England, UK.
authors.forename: Clare M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Eglin
authors.affiliation: Extreme Environments Laboratory, Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Portsmouth, Spinnaker Building, Cambridge Road, Portsmouth, PO1 2ER, England, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tipton
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, University of Northumbria, Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, England, UK. martin.barwood@northumbria.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Barwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003020:Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004332:Drowning / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011897:Random Allocation; D013550:Swimming
keywords: Body composition; Cold water; Hypothermia; Insulation; Swim failure; Thermoregulation
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