http://pedsccm.wustl.edu/all-net/eng...tect/nr-dn.htm

In human adults and animals, immersion in icy water results in involuntary
reflex hyperventilation and a decreased breath holding ability to less than
10 seconds

http://www.telmedpak.com/homes.asp?a=first_aid&b=nd
Drowning can happen in many ways, but all deaths from drowning are due to
lack of oxygen (asphyxiation). It is not important whether or not the lungs
fill up with water, or whether there is salt water or fresh water. What
matters, is that how much oxygen continues to reach the victim's brain.

http://www.capital.net/com/nckayak/nck_safety_p4.htm

Cold water can kill in three ways. The canoeist probably suffered cold shock
resulting in ineffective breathing, rapid onset of panic, confusion, and
inneffective swimming, struggling briefly at the surface and then sinking.
The marines may have managed the initial cold shock, but the cold water
rendered their extremities neuromuscularly dysfunctional within several
minutes, causing death by drowning. The fishermen were a more classic case
of severe hypothermia, with body chemistry dysfunction causing
cardiovascular collapse and death.

*** Seems to me that lack of oxygen, coupled with muscle fatigue is the
leading causes... not ingesting water. Of course, after you're under water,
I guess you will ingest "many litres"... but by then, it's already too late.


"Lure builder" wrote in message
...
Charles
Actually... the cold water doesn't make you ingest the water. Most
drowning
deaths in cold water are caused from fatigue, because the victims do not
remember to breathe deeply enough to replace their body's oxygen. Anytime
I'm out on the lake in cold weather, I try to bring up that subject with
the
guy in the back.

*Note to self... after reformatting computers... refill the kill-file.


Are you sure of what you are saying. I have my info from a researcher
(professor) on the topic. The body when it hits cold water there is a
shudder
reaction. This can cause you to ingest many litres of water. This is quite
dangerous and cause you to drown. It doesn't happen in all cases to the
same
extent. It could cause a strong swimmer to drown. That same swimmer if he
folows your reasoning would think he would have to be fatigued in order to
drown. After learning this i always wear a pfd in the canoe..
Read about drowning a lot of times the individual jus disappears below the
surface.