While air temperatures might be climbing, water temperatures are still dangerously cold and doctors are encouraging you to be safe.
"When water gets to 60 degrees or below, it can be very dangerous and even life-threatening," Kevin Borrup, associate director of the Injury Prevention Center at Connecticut Children's Medical Center, said.
Four weeks ago, a water rescue was made in the Connecticut River and units from Weathersfield, Glastonbury, and Rocky Hill all responded. It was their quick response that was critical to the victim’s survival from the cold waters.
"In temperatures around 58 degrees, you're really only talking about 10 minutes before people start to lose functionality in their extremities," James Ritter, the public information officer of the Wethersfield Fire Department, said.
"When you're emerged in cold water, your body will continue to cool off until it meets the temperature of the water," Borrup said. "Granted, this does happen slowly and you have more time, but the colder the water the more dangerous it is."
This is something that can be difficult for children to understand because the air is hot and they want to swim.
"My children will go right in," Signe Damdar, of Newington, said, who added that it wise to take precautions and teach them.
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Children are much more vulnerable than adults when exposed to cold water because much of their body can be submerged so quickly. Officials encourage parents to always have a personal flotation device and always make sure your children are within arm’s reach.
