COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a long summer hike in the mountains, few things can seem more rewarding than plunging into a pristine alpine lake. Believe it or not, plunging into that alpine lake might be the riskiest thing you do all day and it could even result in your death.
While people tend to view flowing waters as more of a drowning risk, still water can be just as deadly in Colorado due to something called cold water shock.
This type of shock occurs when the body is immersed in – you guessed it – cold water, though it doesn’t actually have to be that cold … more on that in a bit. The cold water can trigger sudden hyperventilation, heart and blood pressure issues, and even cognitive impairment. While this is happening, your body can also suffer from physical incapacitation, as arms and legs may lose their mobility, thus becoming unable to keep the body above water. All of this can take place within the first three minutes of being in cold water or less…