Maintain an open airway. Wait for medical assistance. All patients in water-related accidents should be treated for shock and kept as warm as possible without overheating until medical assistance can be received. The body's chemical activities take place in a limited temperature range. They cannot occur with the efficiency needed for life if the body temperature is too high or too low.
Heat is generated as a result of the constant chemical processes within the body.
A certain amount of this heat is required to maintain normal body temperature. If allowed to go unchecked, this will lead to death. The individual perspires heavily, often drinking large quantities of water. As the sweating continues, salts are lost by the body, bringing on painful muscle cramps. Some medical authorities question whether heat cramps are associated with salt loss.