BOATING PREPAREDNESS IN COLD WEATHER A MUST

Boaters increase odds of survival during cold-weather incidents when armed with the right knowledge and tools

PRATT – A quick slip of the foot, a clothing snag on a limb, or even high winds can pose a big

risk for any boater, but add in freezing temperatures, and you may find yourself encountering a life or death situation. As colder temperatures make their way through the state, boaters are encouraged to arm themselves and their passengers with the tools and knowledge necessary to increase the odds of survival, should a boating incident occur.

As a rule of thumb, if the sum of the air and water temperatures added together equals less than 100 degrees and you fall into the water, you could be at risk for hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Cold water can rob the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air, so time is of the upmost importance should a boater fall in the water. If a boater’s core body temperature drops below normal (98.6 degrees F), the risk of becoming hypothermic increases dramatically.

If you fall overboard, remember the “1-10-1” rule. After the initial shock of falling in wears off, you will experience about one minute of deep and uncontrolled breathing before your blood circulation is altered. Staying calm will be easier if you're wearing a life jacket because it will keep your head above the water line and help you avoid breathing in mouthfuls of water.

The ten minutes after falling into cold water are crucial to survival. During this time, blood flow will start moving away from hands and feet in order to keep the body’s core warm. The body instinctively attempts to keep vital organs warm and functioning in an effort to avoid organ failure and death. This change in blood circulation affects nerves and muscles farther away from the body’s core, limiting their ability to function. A self-rescue attempt must be made at this time. If possible, immediately get out of the water. Even if your boat is capsized and upside down, crawling onto the part of the boat that is still above water will increase your odds of survival. If you are not wearing a life jacket and can’t get out of the water, you will eventually lose the ability to tread water or swim due to the lack of response from your arms and legs. Using the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) will keep your core warmer longer, and wearing a life jacket makes the HELP position just that much easier. In the HELP position, you just pull your legs up to your chest and hug your knees, keeping your body compact and surrounding your chest with protection. If other boaters are in the water with you, huddle together for warmth.

The last part of the “1-10-1” rule refers to a person’s level of consciousness after being in cold water for one hour. Most people will lose consciousness within one hour, but if you are wearing a life jacket, your face will remain above water, allowing you to breathe even if you become unconscious.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism recommends as it does with any outdoor outing to always let someone know where you will be and what time they should expect you to be back. Always dress appropriately by wearing layers that can be removed if the weather warms, and avoid cotton clothing. Cotton will keep water trapped close to your body instead of wicking it away, ultimately taking it longer to dry. If you should find yourself soaking wet, never remove your clothing and shoes unless you have a dry set to change into. Although cold and wet, this clothing will provide your body with more insulation, keeping you warmer than you would normally be without clothing.

There are no guarantees when out in the water, but by wearing a life jacket, remembering the “1-10-1” rule, and always letting someone know where you are prior to leaving, you could potentially save not only your own life, but the life of another.

SAFE COLD-WEATHER BOATING

Boating during the winter requires added precautions to ensure safety
Following basic safe boating rules is necessary whenever you’re on the water, but it takes on a new level of importance when the water is cold. As a rule of thumb, if the sum of the air and water temperatures added together equals less than 100 degrees and you fall into the water, you could be looking at a hypothermic situation.
Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, and cold water robs the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air. When your core body temperature drops below normal (98.6 degrees F), you become hypothermic. Your preparation and how you handle yourself following a fall into cold water will determine your odds of survival.
Remember the “1-10-1” rule. If you fall overboard, you usually have one minute to get your breathing under control. An involuntary gasp occurs when your body encounters the cold water, and this can cause you to breathe in a large amount of water, which can lead to drowning. After the initial shock, you will experience about one minute of deep and uncontrolled breathing. Calming yourself will be easier if you're wearing a life jacket because it will keep your head above the water line and help you avoid breathing in mouthfuls of water.
Over the next ten minutes, your blood flow will start to move away from your hands and feet in order to keep your body’s core warm. The body instinctively attempts to keep vital organs warm and functioning. This affects nerves and muscles farther away from your core, limiting their ability to function. It is during this crucial time that any attempt at self rescue should be made. Get out of the water. Even if your boat is capsized and upside down, crawling onto the part of the boat that is still above water will increase your odds of survival. If you are not wearing a life jacket and can’t get out of the water, you will eventually lose the ability to tread water or swim due to the lack of response from your arms and legs.
Keeping your core protected can help keep you conscious longer, and using the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) will keep your core warmer longer. Wearing a life jacket makes the HELP position easier; you just pull your legs up to your chest and hug your knees. This keeps your body compact and surrounds your chest with protection. If you are in the water with other people, you can huddle together and share warmth. Most people will lose consciousness in one hour, but if you are wearing a life jacket, your face will be above the water and you will still be able to breathe even if you start to fade.
Always dress for the weather by wearing layers that can be removed if the weather warms, and avoid cotton clothing. Cotton will keep the water trapped by your body instead of wicking it away, and it takes a long time to dry. But if you do end up soaking wet, never remove your clothing and shoes unless you have a dry set to change into. Even though the clothes are cold and wet, they provide insulation to your body and will actually keep you warmer. By understanding how hypothermia affects your body and the 1-10-1 rule -- one minute to control your breathing, 10 minutes to rescue yourself and one hour before you lose consciousness -- you can increase your chance for survival if you run into problems while boating in cold water. Of course, wearing life jacket is always the smart choice while boating during any time of the year.

COLD-WATER BOATING REQUIRES ADDED PRECAUTIONS

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Anglers and hunters can protect themselves against hypothermia
PRATT — While pleasure boaters have winterized and stored their watercraft, avid waterfowl hunters and cold-weather anglers are gearing up for fall hunting and fishing seasons. But fall can be a dangerous time on the water. Most single-boat accidents take place this time of year, and with water temperatures cooling, these accidents can be deadly.

One common mistake is overloading a small boat with people and equipment. Overloaded boats are unstable and can easily capsize or cause passengers to fall overboard into frigid water. Sudden immersion into cold water delivers a brutal shock to the body, triggering a spontaneous inhalation reflex — deadly if one’s head is under water. But wearing a life jacket can be enough to keep your head above water during an involuntary gasp, keeping lungs from filling with water.

In addition, the body loses heat 25 times faster in water than in air of the same temperature. Hypothermia begins with shivering and a loss of feeling in the extremities. Within minutes of being immersed in cold water, a person can become confused and lose muscle control. By keeping capsized boaters afloat, life jackets also enable them to conserve energy and get out of the water or be rescued.

The following simple steps can make a cold water boating expedition much safer:

• always wear a life jacket — new styles and camouflage patterns, including float coats, make wearing a life jacket much more comfortable;
• dress properly for the cold — layered clothing can provide insulation and trap air to hold warmth;
• avoid cotton clothing — wool and many synthetic materials are good choices, but cotton wicks cold water in toward the body;
• never boat alone; and
• let family members or friends know where you’re going and when you plan to return.

Boating can be an excellent way to hunt or fish in cold weather, but be safe. Planning ahead for the possibility of a cold water accident can save a life.