The risk of suffering severe hypothermia on capsizing and being immersed in cold water increases significantly during cold periods. To minimise the risk of capsize the following additional rules apply over and above the normal River Status and Night Time Rowing Rules when the water temperature is 8oC or less and the flow rate remains below 100m3/sec.
Immersion in cold water represents a particular risk. This may occur when a boat capsizes, is swamped, or a participant falls into the water from a launch or pontoon.
Sudden unexpected immersion presents four stages of drowning risk*:
| Predominant risk | Approx. timings | ||
| Stage 1 | Initial immersion | Cold water shock | 0-3 minutes |
| Stage 2 | Short term immersion | Swim failure | 3-15 minutes |
| Stage 3 | Long term immersion | Hypothermia | 15-30+ minutes |
| Stage 4 | Post rescue | Collapse | Hours after rescue |
If you do fall into cold water you will immediately gasp for breath and hyperventilate;
this increases the possibility that you will breathe in water and may mean you cannot hold your breath. Just one large aspiration of water can severely affect your ability to breathe.
Hyperventilation can also cause dizziness, confusion and panic. Your heart rate increases rapidly and your blood pressure increases, potentially leading to cardiac arrest.
Stay with your boat if you capsize,
Try not to panic (the gasping for breath will start to lessen with time)
Get your body out of (and ideally off) the water as quickly as possible; know where you will get out of the river (see Reach map)
Seek medical attention in the treatment of moderate or severe hypothermia
(see accompanying Advice for Cold Water immersion treatment note).
To minimise the risk of cold-water immersion the following additional rules apply over and above the normal River Status and Night Time Rowing Rules when the water temperature is 8ºC or less and the flow rate remains below 100m3/sec.
- Amber conditions apply in water which is less than or equal to 8ºC. No inexperienced members are to be out without coaching supervision and launch cover.
- At water temperatures less than or equal to 5ºC no novice or inexperienced rowers in small boats (singles, doubles and pairs) are allowed to go out. Big boats (fours, quads and eights) may continue to go out. The river status will remain at Amber.
- At water temperatures less than or equal to 3ºC all small boat rowing is suspended. Big boats may continue to go out with coaching supervision and launch cover. The river status will move to Red/Amber but with no small boat rowing.
If the river flow-rate is 100m3/sec or more then restrictions revert to those of the normal River Status Board Settings.
Even when rowing is permitted it is every member’s responsibility to carry out their own risk assessment (considering any medical preconditions, particularly related to the heart) and decide whether it is safe to go out.
If in doubt, don’t go out!
* Please refer to British Rowing ‘Cold Water Immersion & Hypothermia’:
Issue v3.0 20-Nov-2016