What is the condition called when a body loses heat faster than it can create it after falling into water?

The condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it after falling into cold water is known as hypothermia. This happens because water conducts heat away from the body much more efficiently than air does. When a person is immersed in cold water, their core body temperature begins to drop, which can lead to serious health issues if not addressed promptly. Symptoms of hypothermia can include shivering, confusion, and exhaustion, and it can become life-threatening if the body temperature continues to decrease.

Heat exhaustion and hyperthermia involve the body overheating and not being able to cool down adequately, which is the opposite of what occurs in this scenario. Frostbite is a condition that affects extremities like fingers and toes when exposed to freezing temperatures, rather than being directly related to overall body temperature regulation in cold water immersion situations. Thus, hypothermia accurately describes the specific response to the body's inability to retain heat in cold water.