MANY boaters find that mild winter days are uncrowded and beautiful out on the water. But though the air may be pleasant, the water will be colder, and cold water kills.
According to the nation’s largest organization of recreational boaters, BoatU.S., many drowning deaths are caused by hypothermia – abnormally low body temperature – not by water in the lungs.
“Cold water robs the body of heat 25-30 times faster than air,” said Ruth Wood, director of the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. “When someone falls overboard, their core temperature begins to drop within 10-15 minutes. And the water doesn’t have to be icy – it just has to be colder than you are to cause hypothermia.”
The more energy someone spends after going overboard, the quicker the body temperature drops, reducing survival time. Wearing a life jacket adds to survival time in the water, not only by minimizing motion needed to keep afloat, but also by helping insulate the body, Wood said.
“If you suddenly find yourself in the water, don’t panic,” she said, “because flailing around causes your body to lose heat a lot more quickly.”
Heads, necks, sides of the chest and groins are the body “hot spots” that lose heat most quickly and need to be protected the most. The best way to prevent hypothermia is to stay in the boat, but should you fall overboard, these tips can help you survive:
Don’t take off your clothes. Instead, button, buckle, zip and tighten collars, cuffs, shoes and hoods. If possible, cover your head – in cold water about half of heat loss comes from the head.
Devote all your efforts to getting out of the water. Act quickly before you lose full use of your hands. Board a boat, raft, or anything floating. Turn a capsized boat over and climb in; remember most boats will support you even when full of water. If you can’t right the boat, climb on top of it.
Don’t try to swim, unless it is to reach a nearby boat, another person or a floating object you can climb or lean on. By releasing warm water between your clothing and your body and sending “warm” blood to your extremities, swimming can cut your survival time by as much as 50 percent.
Even if it’s painful, remain as still as possible. Intense shivering and severe pain in cold water are natural body reflexes. These will not kill you, but heat loss will.
If you’re with other people, huddle together for warmth. Otherwise, hold your knees to your chest to protect your trunk from heat loss, and clasp your arms around your calves.
For a free brochure about preventing and treating hypothermia, call the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water at 1-800-336-2628.
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Fly fishing enthusiasts will have a great opportunity to improve their skills as well as their equipment on hand at The Fly Fishing Show at the Garden State Exhibit Center in Somerset, N.J., from Friday through Sunday.
The show will include a vast array of exhibits that offer fly rods, reels, tying materials, vests, waders, books, videos, flies, lodges, guides and artwork. There are also numerous seminars and demos that will cover just about everything you need to know about the sport.
The Exhibit Center is located just off I-287 at Exit 10. Admission is $12; for more information call (800) 420-7582 or check out the web site at http://www.flyfishingshow.com.
The Atlantic City International Sportsmen’s Show will also be held from Friday through Sunday. Exhibitors will include fishing tackle manufacturers, charter and party boats, lodges and outfitters, guide services, wildlife and nautical artists, state fish and game departments, fishing clubs, conservation organizations and more. There will also be an extensive seminar program covering topics ranging from largemouth bass to bluefin tuna. For more information, call (877) 550-SHOW.
