• Keep your PFD on.
• Keep your knees bent.
• Float on your back and paddle slowly to safety.
COLD WATER SURVIVAL
Sudden immersion in cold water can induce rapid, uncontrolled
breathing, cardiac arrest and other physical body conditions, which
can lead to drowning. Always wearing a PFD will help survival in rapid
immersion situations.
In other situations when entry into cold water is necessary:
• Wear a PFD.
• Button all clothing.
• Cover your head if possible and enter the water slowly.
• Keep your head out of the water if at all possible.
• Assume the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP) position
as taught within a Coast Guard-taught safety course. Information
about HELP is available online.
Immersion in water speeds the loss of body heat and can lead to
hypothermia, the abnormal lowering of internal body temperature.
If a boat capsizes, it will likely float on or just below the surface.
To reduce the effects of hypothermia, get in or on the boat. Try to
get as much of your body out of the water as possible. If you can’t
get in the boat, a PFD will enable you to keep your head out of the
water. This is very important because about 50 percent of body
heat loss is from the head.
It may be possible to revive a drowning victim who has been under
water for some time and shows no sign of life. Cases document
instances where victims have been resuscitated after extended
periods. Start CPR immediately and get the victim to a hospital as
quickly as possible.
Immersion suits will delay the effects of hypothermia in cold water
and are available through many retailers who specialize in sales
of marine products. The suits should be stored and maintained
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS
An inflatable life raft can provide a survival platform for an extended
period of time. Be sure the life raft is large enough for everyone on
board when the boat operates off-shore. It should have the appro-
priate emergency equipment pack and should be professionally
serviced periodically, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Coast Guard-approved life rafts must meet a number of stringent
material and performance standards.
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