Table 1.

Exclusion criteria in database survey.

Animal studies (with a few exceptions where it was felt they were relevant for humans)

Cold stress without water immersion

Aggravations of medical conditions when exposed to seawater

Accidental cold-water immersions

Water temperatures greater than 20°C

Treatment of hyperthermia

Therapy in general

Studies investigating the effect of a medication on CWI

Research on people with conditions such as diabetes, Raynauds, cardiovascular disease, homozygous sickle cell disease

Studies using wet suits

Studies on cold weather altitude acclimatisation

Publications were there was only a title with an abstract or publications with only a title.

Studies only including the title