New Online Tool Aims to Reduce Cold Water Accidents Around the World
A new online tool has been created to estimate survival times during immersion in very cold water temperatures. The Cold Water Survival Time Calculator has been developed by the leading IT professionals behind Good Calculators; a platform that offers free online calculators for a variety of purposes, and which can be used in domestic and commercial applications.
The Cold Water Survival Time Calculator automatically computes predicted survival times for the average person based on the temperature of the water. The calculations are based on the extensive findings of three notable researchers in the field of cold water. Xiaojiang Xu studied 12 documented incidents of accidental immersion, while JS Hayward used simulated accident conditions to generate findings. Research from Canadian physiologist Gordon Grant Giesbrecht, who studies extreme environments, has also been taken into account, creating unique formulae that generate accurate results.
Ultimately, the combined findings from the three researchers suggests that a drop in body temperature below 35 degrees Celsius (or 95 degrees Fahrenheit) will typically occur within 20 to 30 minutes in cold water environments, sparking the start of both physical and cognitive failure.
The Cold Water Survival Time Calculator uses two formulae depending on water temperature. For temperatures above zero, the calculation Survival Time (minutes) = 15 + 7.2 / (0.0785 − (0.0034 × water temperature in °C)) is used. Below zero, the calculation Survival Time (hours) = 0.0547 × (water temperature in °C)2 + 0.5048 × (water temperature in °C) + 1.3604 is used.
“More than 90% of the calculators we develop and publish are based on well known formulae and equations, and this one is no different” says Good Calculators Author and Developer John Sanders. “We’ve delved deeply into the vast amounts of research that has been undertaken within this area to develop a mean immersion time prediction that we hope will go a long way towards improving awareness of the dangers of cold water, and minimising the number of accidents that can occur as a result of cold water shock”.
The introduction of the new tool comes at a time when experts are striving to raise awareness of cold water shock. In 2017, a 4-year old girl died in the Provo River in Utah, and while the river is notoriously rocky it is believed that the 47-50 degree Fahrenheit temperatures played a significant role in the tragedy. Similarly, just last year a 14-year old boy in England died of cold water shock after jumping into the River Wear while playing with friends.
Following the rise of fatalities as a result of children being left and forgotten in hot cars, doctors are speaking out to claim that simply knowing just how quickly extreme temperatures can affect the body is enough to minimise risk, with the information becoming ingrained in both the conscious and subconscious mind. It is hoped that through the Cold Water Survival Time Calculator, incidents of cold water shock around the world can be reduced.
The simple tool can be used simply by inputting the water temperature, either in Fahrenheit or Celsius, and clicking ‘calculate’. At freezing temperatures, the tool estimates that survival time for the average person is 1 hour, 22 minutes.
The Cold Water Survival Time Calculator is just the latest in a growing collection of prediction tools. The Good Calculators platform also offers financial, date and time, engineering, mathematical, logistics, sales, conversions, and sports and health calculators. A range of other tools are also available, including a coffee-to-water ratio calculator, a TV viewing distance calculator, and even a calculator for ordering the right amount of pizza.
To find out more about the Cold Water Survival Time Calculator, visit goodcalculators.com/cold-water-survival-time-calculator