Ask the Experts | Cold Weather Boating

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Whether you're boating, fishing or waterfowl hunting, many boaters are on the water early and late into the 'soft water' boating season.[/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]You don't have to encounter sub-zero temperatures and high wind to come face-to-face with hypothermia. In fact, if you are a boater who ends up in the water for any length of time, hypothermia can be your greatest threat to survival, and the fact of the matter is the water doesn't even have to be particularly cold.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]According to the Mayo Clinic, hypothermia is "a physical condition that occurs when the body's core temperature falls below its normal range, about 98.6 F (37 C) to 95 F (35 C) or cooler." The term 'core' refers specifically to internal organs and the brain. This condition can occur when a body is exposed to cold temperatures without adequate clothing, but the effect is accelerated when the body is submerged in cool or cold water. When a person is submerged, hypothermia can lead to loss of life far more quickly as a result of rapid exhaustion and unconsciousness, leading ultimately to drowning.[/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Survival time in cold water can be dramatically different from one individual to another. Obviously, water temperature is also a major factor but surprisingly, water that you might not hesitate to swim in can cause hypothermia if a body is subjected to it for an extended period of time.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]A person immersed in water less than 40 F has an expected survival time of 30-to-90 minutes before hypothermia causes death. Submersion in water between 60 F and 70 F results in an expected time of survival that can stretch to as long as 40 hours, but exhaustion and unconsciousness can occur in as little as two hours. So while a person could conceivably survive two or three days floating partially submerged in water at those temperatures while awaiting rescue, without the aid of a flotation device, chances are most people will be unable to tread water for more than a few hours.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]The single most important thing you can do to enhance your safe boating experience and maximize survivability in cool or cold water is to wear a personal flotation device (PFD).[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]When submerged in cold water, there are a few things you can do to slow the onset of hypothermia.[/FONT]

• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Keep as much clothing on as possible. Even wet, clothing can help retain some body heat.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Adopt a survival or "heat escape lessening position" (H.E.L.P.) with arms wrapped around chest and legs drawn up to slow core cooling.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Remain still unless a floating object, another person or the shore is nearby. Excessive movement and exertion increases temperature loss.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Keep as much of your body out of the water as possible, especially your head.[/FONT]
• [FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Keep a positive mental outlook while awaiting rescue, and try not to panic.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]If you spend time on the water during the colder months of the year when water temperatures can reduce exhaustion and survival times to short intervals just wearing a PFD is not enough. Insulation to slow the onset of hypothermia has to be considered. While inflatable PFDs are growing in popularity, they offer little insulation, while a vest-type PFD can reduce heat loss from the critical chest area of the body. Put one on over warm clothing and you can feel the way it helps maximize heat retention. Insulated flotation jackets (float coats) take insulation and warmth another step. One with a hood is even better to reduce heat loss from the neck and head. If you operate a boat on bodies of water with temperatures in the 40 F-range or colder, having survival suits aboard can save lives in the event of an emergency. Commercial vessels must carry one for each crew member by law. Common sense suggests that recreational boaters operating in extreme conditions should be similarly equipped.[/FONT]

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[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]All recreational boaters should strive to operate their boats in a manner that protects the safety of those on board. It's very important never to lose site of the environment in which you operate, and take whatever precautions are necessary when you are on the water. Don't forget that the water doesn't have to be all that cold to cause hypothermia. Properly equipping your boat with PFDs that fit your environment could make a big difference in preventing hypothermia should a situation occur.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]iboats.com has a wide selection of great PFD's right here: http://www.iboats.com/Life-Jackets-Vests-PFDs-Accessories/dm/view_id.368694.[/FONT]

[FONT=Trebuchet MS, Lucida Grande, Arial, sans-serif]Enjoy boating throughout the season and be safe.[/FONT]