In what temperature conditions can a drowning victim survive indefinitely?

The survival of a drowning victim is significantly influenced by the temperature of the water in which the drowning occurs. In water that is warmer than 70°F, the likelihood of a victim surviving indefinitely increases because warmer temperatures generally allow for a greater chance of performing resuscitation and revival. The body's physiological responses to warmer water do not lead to as rapid a depletion of oxygen as seen in colder conditions.

In warmer waters, the metabolic demands on the body are less severe, and hypothermia, a common complication in drowning cases, is less likely to occur. Conversely, in colder conditions, particularly when water is less than 50°F, the body's temperature can drop quickly, leading to hypothermia and significantly reducing chances of survival and successful resuscitation. Similarly, water temperatures between 50°F and 70°F still present serious risks of hypothermia, though the risk is less than in colder waters. Ambient room temperature typically does not apply to drowning scenarios directly in water, as it is not a temperature range that occurs naturally in aquatic environments.

Thus, water warmer than 70°F offers more favorable conditions for potential survival following a drowning incident.