What condition poses a risk to the body if you fall into cold water?

Hypothermia is the condition that poses a significant risk to the body if someone falls into cold water. This occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, leading to a dangerously low body temperature. Cold water can lead to rapid heat loss, especially if a person is submerged, as water conducts heat away from the body much more efficiently than air. The symptoms of hypothermia can progress from shivering and confusion to loss of consciousness and, in severe cases, death.

Frostbite, on the other hand, is localized damage to skin and tissues caused by extreme cold, which can happen when exposed to freezing conditions for prolonged periods. While falling into cold water can lead to frostbite if parts of the body are exposed and it becomes cold enough, hypothermia is the more immediate risk associated with immersion in cold water.

Heat exhaustion and dehydration are conditions related to overheating and water loss, respectively, and are not typically linked with cold water exposure. Thus, hypothermia is the primary concern in cold water scenarios.