Question 19 MODU03 - Ballast Control Operator

The Correct Answer is D **Why option D is correct:** Hypothermia is the rapid cooling of the body's core temperature, which occurs quickly when immersed in cold water. Wearing multiple layers of clothing (especially wool or synthetic materials, though any trapped layers are better than none) before donning a survival suit or entering the water helps create insulation by trapping layers of air and slowing the conductive heat loss from the body to the water. A survival suit (or immersion suit) is designed specifically to insulate and keep the wearer dry, but the layers underneath act as crucial additional insulation, significantly preserving body heat and delaying the onset of hypothermia. **Why the other options are incorrect:** **A) Remove as many layers of clothing as possible before donning a survival suit to help increase buoyancy:** This is incorrect. Removing clothing drastically reduces insulation, leading to immediate and rapid hypothermia, which is the primary danger. While buoyancy is important, survival suits are inherently buoyant, and the slight loss of buoyancy from wet clothing is far outweighed by the insulating benefit of the layers. **B) Consume large amounts of cold liquids to increase hydration:** This is incorrect. Consuming cold liquids contributes to cooling the body's core temperature (internal cooling), speeding up the onset of hypothermia. While staying hydrated is important for long-term survival, this action is counterproductive immediately before or during exposure to extreme cold. **C) Once you are in the water keep moving as much as possible to increase circulation:** This is incorrect. Vigorous movement in cold water forces the cold water to circulate more rapidly past the body and through clothing layers (known as "pumping action"), rapidly stripping away the insulating boundary layer of water warmed by the body. This significantly increases the rate of heat loss and accelerates hypothermia. The recommended practice is to remain still (Huddle or HELP position) to conserve energy and heat.