tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post2809486074187068295..comments2024-01-13T00:38:28.549-08:00Comments on Southern California Aquatics SCAQ Swim Club: Open water swimming: A rule of thumb for the prevention of Hypothermia and Hyperthermia!Tony Austinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00109365938555421509noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37388994.post-19281050501486797182015-07-22T14:59:57.374-07:002015-07-22T14:59:57.374-07:00Water provides something like 20x the cooling (or ...Water provides something like 20x the cooling (or heating) that air does, and open-water swimming is a nearly full-immersion sport. Air temps have near-zero bearing. However, 87-degree water is too close to (resting) core body temps to provide sufficient cooling for heavy exercise like open-water racing. This is unlike air temps of 87, where the body can use evaporative cooling rather than simply conduction. The race guideline should be based solely on water temps, and should be low enough to avoid overheating. Kayaking guidelines use the same flawed assumption that air & water provide equal rates of cooling, and are often criticized for understating the risk of cold water.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com