The effects of alcohol upon cooling rates of humans immersed in 7.5 degrees C water

The effects of the ingestion of a moderate dose of alcohol, a known vasodilator, upon the cooling rate of four human subjects immersed in 7.5 degrees C water for periods of time ranging from 38 to 75 min is reported. In three of the cases the cooling rate was retarded, in no case was it accelerated. This result, while lacking statistical significance, has not previously been reported. The difficulties attendant upon such research are noted.