The Weather is Warm(er) - But the Water is Dam (Low Head) Cold! by David S. Smith, Ph.D., Commander, USCG (RET) A blush of springtime fills the air. Birds are chirping and the bees are starting to hum. Gentle rains begin to nourish the winter parched earth. Poetic what? And - when those rains come down in large quantities, filling creeks and streams, a number of folks itch to get out the canoe, john boat or inflatable and venture forth. OK, no problem. But, when their journeying is accompanied by alcohol and not accompanied by PFD's that are being worn - bad things might easily happen to good people! Statistics indicate that this season of the year especially draws boats and their occupants toward low head dams or drowning machines. A low head dam is a barrier across a body of moving water which is so uniform in height, that you can't see it from upstream, until you are about to go over it. The sound of these dams is also projected down stream so there is next to no warning of their presence to the unsuspecting. High waters rushing over dams stirs the sense of adventure in too many booze lubricated boaters. So, tragedy often results. Protect yourself. Find out if there are any of these critters (low head dams) where you or your family members are boating. Remember that last fall the waters were down and the dam didn't seem much of a big deal. Maybe you or your kids even walked along the crest of the then trickling dam. However, come spring rains, then big changes may be in store! Plus the water is cold. You lose heat 25 times as fast to water as to air of the same temperature, and that is to non-moving water. Being swept over a dam and attempting to hold onto a tree limb while the water gushes past can subject your body to a heat lost 250 times what it would be to air! You may be a curious soul, but experimenting with these forces is less than wise. Keep cool - in your behavior - but warm around the water. Till next time - Peace. 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...