What is a cause of hypothermia in kayaking?

• A. Overhydration
• B. Prolonged exposure to cold water or wind
• C. Too much sunscreen
• D. Excessive movement

Answer: (B)

Hypothermia in kayaking happens when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and the dominant cause is being exposed to cold water or wind for a prolonged period. Water drains heat from the body much more quickly than air does, and wind speeds up heat loss from wet skin and clothing. In a kayak, splashes keep you wet and exposed to cooling wind, so staying in those conditions too long drops your core temperature.

Other options don’t directly cause hypothermia. Overhydration isn’t about cooling the body; it affects hydration balance rather than heat loss. Too much sunscreen protects the skin but doesn’t change how your core temperature is controlled. Excessive movement can generate some heat, but it usually isn’t enough to prevent hypothermia in cold, wet, and windy conditions, where environmental heat loss dominates.