What is a key consideration when performing a rescue in cold water?

When performing a rescue in cold water, understanding the risk of hypothermia is critically important. Cold water can rapidly decrease a person's body temperature, leading to hypothermia, which significantly impairs their physical and mental abilities. The body's core temperature drops quickly in cold environments, and individuals submerged or immersed in cold water can begin to experience the effects of hypothermia in a matter of minutes.

Recognizing this risk helps rescuers to act swiftly and efficiently, ensuring they provide necessary interventions to warm and stabilize the victim as soon as possible. Additionally, this awareness can inform the rescuer's own safety measures, ensuring they are prepared to manage their own exposure to cold water for an extended duration.

While duration of the rescue, visibility, and weather conditions are also important factors to consider, the primary focus must be on the hypothermia risk due to its immediate impact on the victim's chances of survival and recovery during a rescue operation in cold water.