What approximate temperature might water in Lake Tahoe hover around during the summer, illustrating slower incapacitation?
Answer
$58^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($14^{\circ}\text{C}$)
Water temperature directly influences the rate at which heat is lost and subsequent incapacitation occurs, even though the initial reflexive shock timeline remains fixed at 1-3 minutes. As an example of relatively warmer, yet still cold, water, Lake Tahoe during the summer is cited as having temperatures that might be near $58^{\circ}\text{F}$ ($14^{\circ}\text{C}$). In this temperature range ($50-60^{\circ}\text{F}$ based on the provided chart), the initial shock reaction might still begin quickly, but the onset of functional loss, while still dangerous, is slower than in near-freezing conditions, potentially extending the incapacitation window up to 30 minutes.
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