On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 05:06:59 -0000, Chuck Gould
wrote:

The shock of the cold water can also cause an
involuntary gasp reflex that can cause victims to inhale water and
drown

Know what this is called?

It's called the Mammalian Dive Reflex

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalian_diving_reflex

Dr. Murray Hamlet Cold Lab of the Army's Soldier Systems Center in
Natick, MA has a fascinating presentation about this whole
physiological function. The actuating nerve center is in the middle
of your forehead. Pretty cool huh?

He's a really interesting guy. I took a weekend cold water survival
course with him when I was a Dive Medic with the Regional Dive Team
about fifteen years ago.