Cold water safety education is complicated by the fact that even when cold water is recognized as a potential hazard, many otherwise safety-conscious people get led astray and lulled into complacency by cold water myths and misinformation. The worst thing about these myths is that they understate the danger of cold water immersion. They spread like a virus, and can be found in books, magazine articles, news stories, videos, advertising, instruction manuals, courses, and on the web.

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The most effective antidote is to shine a spotlight on the problem and counter it with accurate information. That's the reason you no longer hear bad advice like "remove your clothes if you fall into cold water", "treat frostbite by rubbing snow on it", and "don't ever let a hypothermia victim fall asleep; slap them if you have to". 

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Discover why the eight myths below are misleading and why you shouldn't use them as a guide to cold water safety.