Winter Water Warnings by David S. Smith, Ph.D., Commander, USCG (RET) Most folks apperciate that cold water can be dangerous. But few know why. Here are a few reasons: A. At a water temperature of 70 degree F. your body loses heat about 25 times as fast as it does to air of the same temperature. B. The average adult swimmer can go about two tenths of a mile before their muscle lock up in 50 degree F. water. C. Torso reflex or inhalation response is an involuntary gasp that almost everyone, swimmer or not, will take on suddenly entering cold water. If your face is immersed, as you gasp, you'll drown yourself. To defeat torso reflex, if you start falling toward the water, take a breath, cover your mouth, and don't breath until your head is clear of the water. D. Caloric Labrythitis is a fancy term for getting disoriented by suddenly having cold water flood your ears and disorient your balance. This can cause good swimmers to swim down instead of up. E. An older, out of shape individual, usually with pre-existing heart or circulation problems, may suffer a heart attack upon contact with freezing water. F. Alcohol does not warm a cold person. It not only increases heat loss, but degrades balance so that the drinker has a greater chance of falling in. If you are fishing or boating on cold water, or spend much time on ice covered lakes, please think about how you'd stay afloat if you fell in. There are literally hundreds of warm, comfortable and highly useable P.F.D's. (Personal Flotation Devices) now on the market in the form of stylish vests, float coats and flotation coverals. The U. S. Coast Guard outfits their rescue boat crews with this equipment, so it has to be good! If you haven't seen what's new in life jackets, check manufacturers' web sites or catalogs in sporting goods stores. You may be happily surprised by what you find! Inflatable devices, some automatically water impact operated are also now available. If you are updating your winter water self rescue knowledge, you also need to realize that the more,layered clothing a person wears, the better they float, and the slower they lose heat to water. If you enter the water unexpectedly try to move as little as possible. Do not remove any clothing. Keep your toes out of the water as you lay on your back. Roll into a head out of the water fetal position, called H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape Lessening Posture). By doing this you treble survival time by drastically reducing heat loss. Once you have stabilized your position, slowly attempt to get your body out of the water. The average healthy adult immersed in cold water usually goes about 20 minites before their internal temperature begins to drastically decline. Again, by doing HELP you multiply this time factor by three. Practice HELP and fully clothed floating in a safe, warm, supervised setting before you need it to save your life. One last survival tip. Always insure when you are spending time around cold water, that someone reliable knows where you are going and when you'll be back! Dr. Smith's latest book, Water Rescue, is available by calling Mosby-Lifeline Publishers at (800) 426-4545. For upcoming seminar information, visit his website at: www.aquaticsafety.com. Got a question about boating safety? Post your question in one of our Boating Forums! Got a boating safety tip to share with others? Share it in one of our Boating Forums or submit an article about it and have it published right here on BOATOhio.com! Back to the top... Back to the Boating Safety Index...