Water temperature below what threshold generally elicits a severe cold shock response?
Answer
$70^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($21^{\circ}\text{C}$)
The severity and onset rate of the cold shock response are directly linked to how cold the water is relative to the body's core temperature. However, there is a general consensus among safety experts regarding the minimum temperature required to provoke a severe, immediate shock reaction. Water temperatures falling below $70^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($21^{\circ}\text{C}$) are consistently considered cold enough to elicit the dramatic physiological changes, including the intense gasp reflex and subsequent hyperventilation, that characterize a severe cold shock event. Immersion in water significantly colder than this threshold will naturally induce the maximum possible reaction.
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