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Cited by 52Thermoregulation and physiological responsesThermal Regulation in MedicineInjury Epidemiology and Prevention

Hypothermia and afterdrop following open water swimming: The Alcatraz/San Francisco swim study

Nuckton, Thomas J., Claman, David M., Goldreich, Daniel, Wendt, Frederick C., Nuckton, John G.·2000·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
DOI 10.1053/ajem.2000.16313
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Abstract

To determine whether or not participants in open water swim events experience hypothermia and afterdrop, rectal temperature was measured for up to 45 minutes in 11 subjects following the New Year's Day Alcatraz Swim. This event was held in open water (11.7 degrees C [53.0 degrees F]) in the San Francisco Bay, and participants did not wear wetsuits or other protective clothing. Biophysical parameters, including surfacelvolume ratio, body mass index, and percent body fat were measured before the swim, and statistical analysis was done to determine predictors of temperature decrease and afterdrop duration. Applying the American Heart Association definition of hypothermia (less than 36.0 C [96.8 degrees F]), hypothermia was seen in 5 of the 11 subjects. Using a more rigorous and traditional definition (less than 35.0 degrees C [95.0 degrees F]), hypothermia was seen in only one subject. Afterdrop, defined as continued cooling following removal from cold stress, was seen in 10 of the 11 subjects. Surface/volume ratio (S/V) and body mass index (BMI) predicted the lowest recorded temperatures (P < .05; r(S/V) = -.71, r(BMI) = .72) and afterdrop duration (P < .05; r(SN) = -.75, r(BMI) = .69). These results suggest that hypothermia and afterdrop can occur commonly after recreational open water swimming, and that participants should be observed for signs of temperature decrease following removal from cold stress.

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  • In cold waters, rectal temperature can continue to fall after the swimming stage, and relative humidity during subsequent cycling can trigger a greater fall in body temperature and a deterioration in performance.

    “In cold waters, the rectal temperature can continue to fall even after the end of the swimming stage; this, together with the relative humidity that the athletes experience when subsequently continuing with the triathlon bike stage, can trigger a greater fall in body temperature and a deterioration in the performance of the athletes [64].”

    From Nutrition-Related Adverse Outcomes in Endurance Sports Competitions: A Review of Incidence and Practical Recommendations (2020) · cites this paper as [64]

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Authors
Nuckton, T. J., Claman, D. M., Goldreich, D., Wendt, F. C., & Nuckton, J. G.
Affiliations
Duquesne University (US)
ORCID
Venue
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2000-10
Volume
18
Issue
6
Pages
703-707
ISSN
0735-6757 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1053/ajem.2000.16313
OpenAlex
W1983904673
Cited by
52
References
15
Citations by year
2025: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 3
FWCI
0.61
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • The American Journal of Emergency Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Thermoregulation and physiological responses
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
Keywords
hypothermia, afterdrop, open water swimming, cold water immersion, rectal temperature, surface-to-volume ratio, body mass index, body fat percentage, San Francisco Bay
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Body Temperature, Female, Humans, Hypothermia, Male, Middle Aged, San Francisco, Swimming, Body Mass Index, Rewarming

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