KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Public safety is the number-one priority of the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Corps of Engineers urges anyone planning
to be on or around water to practice boating and water safety throughout the
year.
Life jackets save lives
and should be worn at all times by anyone in a boat, including those waterfowl
hunting or fishing. Statistics show that nearly 90 percent of those who drown
were not wearing a life jacket and nearly two-thirds didn’t plan to be in the
water.
If you plan on
being outdoors near or on the water dress appropriately for the water temperature
not the air temperature because you could find yourself capsized, or thrown
from a boat. You could be in cold water and unable to swim because in a short
amount of time your muscles will get cold and you will lose the ability to
rescue yourself. Many suspected drowning victims
actually die from cold water immersion instead of hypothermia. Hypothermia is still
something that you should be aware of.
It is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can
produce it. Violent shivering develops which may give way to confusion and a
loss of body movement.
The U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers National Operations Center for Water Safety advises that the danger
to individuals immersed in cold water increases as water temperature decreases
below normal body temperature (98.6 degrees F). Cold-water immersion follows
four stages: cold shock; swimming failure; hypothermia; and post-rescue
collapse. Most cold-water drownings are attributed to the first two stages.
If you fall into cold
water, remember the 1-10-1 rule. Cold shock will pass in about 1 minute. This
is an initial deep and sudden gasp followed by hyperventilation. During this
time concentrate on not panicking and getting breathing under control. Over the
next 10 minutes, you will lose the effective use of your fingers, arms and
legs. During this time concentrate on self-rescue
initially, and if that isn’t possible, prepare to have a way to keep your
airway clear to breath and wait for rescue. Even in ice water it could take about
1 hour before becoming unconscious due to hypothermia.
It is critical to wear
a life jacket to keep afloat and your head above water. Life jacket styles are
available for many activities, including hunting and cold weather. There are float
coats available in many colors including camouflage for waterfowl hunting and
for those who boat when air and water temperatures are cool. In addition to
wearing a life jacket, there are some things you can do to delay hypothermia.
The Heat Escape Lessening (HELP) and Huddle Positions help conserve body heat.
If alone in cold water pull your knees up to your chest and wrap your arms
around your knees. If you are with other people huddle together as close as
possible and wrap your arms around each other.
It
is important for all boaters to wear a life jacket, avoid boating alone, tell
someone where you are going and when you will return, check the capacity plate
and don’t overload your boat, dress for the water temperature, and know how to
minimize heat loss if you end up in the water. Life Jackets Worn…Nobody Mourns,
learn more at PleaseWearIt.com.
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