Sudden entry into cold water is a shock to the body and can cause cardiac arrest or an involuntary gasp reflex that makes victims inhale water and drown. In water that is 69°F or lower, the ability to swim or tread water is impaired within minutes as the victim loses muscular coordination due to the cold.
Cold-water immersion can be much more dangerous than hypothermia, as hypothermia doesn't set in until a minimum 30 minutes after entering the water and is dependent upon body size and type, insulation of clothing and other factors. Even when hypothermic, victims can survive hours before losing consciousness and drowning.
The best precautions to take in order to survive the shock set on by cold-water immersion is to wear a survival suit, which keeps cold water away from the body and minimizes loss of heat and coordination, and to use a personal flotation device (PFD). These devices keep a victim's head above water, minimizing the risk of drowning and making the victim more visible.
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