The impact of stressors on cognition during a survival exercise in polar waters—results of an experiment in northern Norway

As sea ice diminishes with global warming, new opportunities for commercial shipping, tourism and fishing arise in the polar regions in the winter. With this comes the risk of accidents. Long distances and extreme environmental conditions compound the challenges of search and rescue operations in Arctic waters. In the event of an incident in polar waters requiring evacuation from ship to lifeboat, sea ice or beach, the International Maritime Organization’s Polar Code requires that passengers and crew can take care of themselves for a minimum of five days. To investigate how hypothermia, poor sleep, emotions and nutrition affect cognitive functions that may impact self-rescue and survival in a cold climate, a 36-hour experiment was carried out in October 2022 in the fjord Beisfjord, northern Norway. The study included cognitive pre- and post-tests, medical examinations, glucose measurements, observations and focus group interviews. The tests revealed a weakening of cognitive skills. Interviews and video recordings showed that the participants were restless and felt bored. The participants described being wet and cold and not having slept adequately. Glucose levels were normal. Some participants suffered mild hypothermia in spite of the wool clothing and survival suits provided. The study shows that human factors are important to consider in planning for emergency situations in polar waters.