If you fall into cold water, what is the first thing you should do until the cold shock response lessens?

Falling into cold water can trigger a physiological response known as cold shock, which can cause gasping, rapid breathing, and an increased heart rate. During this initial phase, it is crucial to gain control over your breathing, which helps prevent panic and reduces the risk of inhaling water. Staying still allows your body to conserve heat and stabilize your heart rate, enabling you to regain control of your breathing.

Taking the approach of swimming vigorously may lead to exhaustion and a higher risk of hypothermia, as it increases heat loss from the body. Yelling for help is certainly important, but if you are panicking and gasping for air, it may be ineffective and can create additional stress. Attempting to swim to shore can also be dangerous because it expends energy at a time when your body needs to focus on managing the cold shock response. Thus, the best strategy initially is to focus on controlling your breathing and remaining as still as possible until your body's response calms down. This approach significantly increases your chances of survival and making thoughtful decisions afterward.