January 16, 2012 |??
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The sinking Costa Concordia; courtsey of Wikimedia Commons/Rvongher
Rescue efforts were called off earlier today after the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck rocks off the coast of Italy and on Friday. Six of the boat?s 4,200 passengers and crewmembers have been reported dead, and another 15 or more are missing.
As lifeboats filled up and malfunctioned and rescue efforts had yet to arrive, dozens of passengers took the chance and jumped into the 14-degree Celsius water to swim ashore to the nearby island of Giglio. Was this a wise move?
Chilly water cools the body down much faster than does cold air, so even waters warmer than 24 degrees Celsius can put people at risk for hypothermia, which is why even those missing passengers who might have survived the ship?s sinking might not have survived for long in the water.
For an explanation of how risky it is to be submerged in cold waters?and why even warm water can be dangerous for the body?read: ?Hypothermia: How Long Can Someone Survive In Frigid Water??
About the Author: Katherine Harmon is an associate editor for Scientific American covering health, medicine and life sciences. Follow on Twitter @katherineharmon.More??
The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Scientific American.
Source: http://rss.sciam.com/click.phdo?i=538117c5a043d7ce04b473625809429d
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