Kaldtvannssjokk og nedkjøling: hva du gjør

Sist kontrollert: 14. oktober 2026

Steg for steg

1. Flyt først, ikke svøm

   Kaldt vann får deg til å gispe og puste veldig raskt. Motstå trangen til å svømme eller sprelle. Legg hodet bakover med ørene under vann, spre armer og bein og flyt til pusten roer seg.[1][2][3][5]

2. Hold munn og nese fri

   En redningsvest holder munn og nese over vannet mens du får kontroll på pusten. Har du ikke redningsvest, hold deg fast i noe som flyter.[6][4]

3. Varsle når du kan puste

   Når pusten er under kontroll, rop, blås i en fløyte eller varsle om hjelp med radio, telefon eller nødpeilesender.[3]

4. Bruk de neste 10 minuttene til å komme deg opp

   Armer, bein og fingre blir svakere i løpet av omtrent de neste ti minuttene. Bruk den tiden til å klatre tilbake om bord eller opp på noe som flyter, og få så mye av kroppen som mulig opp av vannet.[7][12]

5. Svøm bare hvis trygghet er nær

   Svømming gjør at du mister varme raskere. Svøm bare til andre mennesker, en båt eller land du er sikker på at du når. Ikke svøm for å holde varmen.[8][14]

6. Alene og kommer deg ikke opp: HELP-stilling

   Hold deg i ro for å spare varme. Kryss armene tett over brystet og trekk knærne opp mot dem, med hodet over vannet.[9][11][14]

7. Sammen med andre: klynge

   Klem dere sammen med brystene tett inntil hverandre, armene rundt hverandres rygger og beina samlet. Det bremser varmetapet og holder gruppen samlet for redningsmannskapene.[10][22]

8. Etter redning: løft forsiktig og legg personen ned

   Løft om mulig en nedkjølt person opp av vannet liggende i stedet for oppreist. Håndter personen forsiktig og få vedkommende inn på et varmt, tørt og skjermet sted så fort som mulig; kjernetemperaturen kan fortsette å synke etter redningen.[15][13]

9. Varm opp sakte

   Ta av våte klær og pakk personen inn i et teppe, en sovepose eller et tørt håndkle, også over hodet. Hvis personen er helt våken, gi en varm alkoholfri drikk og litt søt mat.[17][19]

10. Skaff medisinsk hjelp

    Nedkjøling er en medisinsk nødsituasjon som krever sykehusbehandling. Ring det lokale rednings- eller nødnummeret.[20]

Unngå

• Ikke prøv å svømme hardt det første minuttet. La kaldtvannssjokket gå over først.[1]
• Ikke svøm bare for å holde varmen. Det øker varmetapet.[8][14]
• Ikke legg en nedkjølt person i et varmt bad, og ikke gni armer, bein, hender eller føtter.[18][21]
• Ikke gi alkohol til noen som fryser.[23]
• Ikke løft en nedkjølt person oppreist hvis du kan løfte vedkommende liggende.[15]

Før du drar ut

• Før du drar ut: bruk redningsvest eller flytevest. Det øker sjansene dine betydelig for å komme gjennom det første sjokket.[6][24]
• Før du drar ut: kle deg etter vanntemperaturen, ikke lufttemperaturen.[25]
• Før du drar ut: regn alt vann under 15 °C som kaldt vann. Mange steder gjelder det store deler av året.[26]
• Før du drar ut: ha en måte å varsle om hjelp på deg, for eksempel en VHF-radio, PLB eller EPIRB.[27]
• Før du drar ut: øv på å flyte et sted med tilsyn, for eksempel i en svømmehall.[28]

Ofte stilte spørsmål

Kilder

Kildene siteres på originalspråket.

1. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Take a minute. The initial effects of cold water pass in less than a minute so don’t try to swim straight away.”
2. RNLI (Float to Live) (2026-10-14): “The best way to float is to tilt your head back with your ears submerged.”
3. RNLI (Float to Live) (2026-10-14): “Try to relax and breathe normally. You can gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. Spread your arms and legs out to improve stability – and it's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. Once your breathing is under control, call for help or swim to safety.”
4. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “If possible, utilize any floating objects to get out of the water.”
5. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “During cold shock, a person will take a sudden, deep gasp of air, then start to hyperventilate. This can be 600-1000% faster than normal breathing and it’s the body’s automatic response. This lasts about one minute.”
6. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “Wearing your lifejacket during this stage will keep you afloat, with your mouth and nose out of the water, so you can focus on your breathing.”
7. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “For the next 10 minutes or so, you will lose meaningful movement in your arms, legs and fingers. Focus on self-rescue. If that isn’t possible, find a way to keep your airway out of the water and wait for rescue.”
8. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “Only swim if you can join others or reach safety. Don’t swim to keep warm.”
9. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “Cross your arms tightly against your chest and draw your knees up close to them to help you keep your body heat.”
10. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “Huddle with others with your chests close together, arms around your mid to lower backs, and legs woven together. This also helps keep your group together until help arrives.”
11. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “If you cannot get to safety, assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position (H.E.L.P.) position. This protects the critical body areas and slows down the loss of heat.”
12. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “Keep as much of your body out of the water as possible.”
13. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “After escaping from cold water, get into a warm, dry, protected environment as quickly as possible. Even removed from cold water, a victim’s core temperature can continue to drop to dangerous levels.”
14. IMO – Guide for Cold Water Survival (MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1) (2026-10-14): “Do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach a fellow survivor or a nearby shore, craft, or other floating object onto which you can hold or climb. Staying calm and still conserves heat.”
15. IMO – Guide for Cold Water Survival (MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1) (2026-10-14): “Ideally, the survivor should be recovered in a horizontal or near-horizontal body position. Lifting a hypothermic person vertically can induce cardiac arrest.”
16. IMO – Guide for Cold Water Survival (MSC.1/Circ.1185/Rev.1) (2026-10-14): “It is important to remember that they will last only about three minutes and will then ease.”
17. NHS (2026-10-14): “remove any wet clothing, wrap them in a blanket, sleeping bag or dry towel, making sure their head is covered”
18. NHS (2026-10-14): “do not use a hot bath, hot water bottle or heat lamp to warm them up”
19. NHS (2026-10-14): “give them a warm non-alcoholic drink and some sugary food like chocolate if they're fully awake”
20. NHS (2026-10-14): “Hypothermia is a dangerous drop in body temperature below 35C (normal body temperature is around 37C). It's a medical emergency that needs to be treated in hospital.”
21. NHS (2026-10-14): “do not rub their arms, legs, feet or hands”
22. NSW Government (Transport for NSW) (2026-10-14): “If you're in the water with others, huddling is the best method of reducing the risk of hypothermia. Huddle close together to protect your chests and arms. This can reduce the rate at which your bodies lose heat and can increase survival time by up to 50%.”
23. NHS (2026-10-14): “do not give them alcohol to drink”
24. RNLI (2026-10-14): “It greatly increases your chances of making it through the initial shock.”
25. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “Always dress for water temperature, not for air temperature.”
26. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Anything below 15°C is defined as cold water and can seriously affect your breathing and movement, so the risk is significant most of the year.”
27. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “Carry an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), personal locator beacon (PLB) or VHF Radio.”
28. RNLI (Float to Live) (2026-10-14): “Practise floating in a supervised location like a swimming pool.”
29. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “The 1-10-1 Principle is a simple way to remember the stages of cold-water immersion and how long each one lasts.”
30. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E) (2026-10-14): “It can take an hour to go unconscious from hypothermia, even in ice water.”
31. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “Gasping for Breath & Rapid Breathing (occurs during the first 2-3 minutes or more)”
32. US National Weather Service (NOAA), citing the Red Cross (2026-10-14): “Hot water bottles and chemical hot packs may be used. Wrap the person in a towel or blanket before applying.”
33. US National Weather Service (NOAA) (2026-10-14): “Gasping for a breath or rapid breathing from sudden immersion can be triggered by water as warm as 77°F (25°C).”

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