Continued loss of body heat in cold water will produce:

• A. Muscle cramps
• B. ALL OF THE ABOVE
• C. Progressive immobility
• D. Inability to pain

Answer: (B)

Prolonged exposure to cold water causes hypothermia, which progressively depresses the body's functions. As core temperature falls, muscles lose power and coordination, leading to cramps and, later, progressive immobility as the ability to move and react deteriorates. Nerve function also slows in the cold, which can dull sensation, so a person may become less aware of pain or discomfort. Because these changes can happen together as hypothermia worsens, all of these effects can appear with continued cold-water exposure.