Labor Day weekend represents the end of another summer boating season, but as many people are beginning to think storage and winterization, there are still a few folks that take to the lakes. These die-hards appreciate the quiet beauty the fall brings to boating. They know that there are moments when the water looks like glass and the sun fades into the shoreline transforming the sky into the amber hues of the turning leaves. These are the moments that are peaceful and touch the soul.

Most fall boaters also know that as peaceful as the moment seems, safety is still necessary. In the fall, water temperatures drop and less people are on the lake. This can cause a deadly combination if boaters are not prepared for emergencies. Here are some suggestions for keeping your fall boating trips safe.

1. Prepare:

Hypothermia can occur in a matter of minutes. When a person is submerged in cold water the skin and nearby tissues cool and the blood retracts from the limbs and focuses on the heart and other organs. No one plans to fall in the water and get hypothermia. Planning ahead can help prevent hypothermia if a person accidentally falls in the water.

• Wear warm clothes. Boaters should dress for the water temperature not the air temperature. Warm clothes like wool under water proof clothing such as Gore-Tex or nylon are best.
• Always wear a PFD (personal floatation device). A person can extend their chance of survival by limiting the amount of energy they expend once in the cold water. A PFD will help the victim float without the need to move their arms or legs.
•  Keep an eye on the weather. Storms sneak up quickly in the fall, especially on the North Shore. Make sure to watch the weather and be able to react quickly if a severe storm is approaching. Bring a buddy. Boating with another person can also help survival chances even if they are in another boat. Learn to swim. Contact the local Red Cross or health club for information on lessons.

2. Stay Calm:

To survive in cold water, keep calm and conserve your energy. 

• Get as far out of the water as possible. Get on anything that floats. Being in the water will cool a person faster than the air. The head loses the most heat (50%), so keep it out of the water. 
• Conserve energy by remaining still. The fetal and heat escape lessening posture (HELP) will increase your survival time. Swimming or treading water will cool a person about 35 percent faster than remaining still.
• Form a huddle. Huddling in a circle with others will help preserve body heat. If children are in the water, place them in the middle of the huddle. Children cool faster than adults. 
• Keep an optimistic outlook. Even if chances are slim,there is still a chance. A positive attitude will help a person survive and stay calm.

3. Stay Put:

Staying where others are likely to look will increase chances of survival.

• Before leaving the dock a boater should always have a float plan. Create a float plan by letting someone know your boating agenda. If plans change, make sure to inform that person and let them know when the trip is complete. In the event of an accident this will help a rescue to team know where to look.
• In cold waters,hypothermia sets in quickly. Even a good swimmer is not likely to make it shore if they try to swim from the boat. Distances can be very deceiving in the water. Stay with the boat unless there is no hope for rescue and the chances of reaching shore are certain. Use a floatation device if possible.

1. Make sure the victim has an open airway and is able to breathe. Then, check for respiration and pulse. Respiration may be slow and shallow and the pulse may be very weak. So check vital signs very carefully.If there is no pulse or respiration, CPR must be started immediately.

2. Prevent further heat loss:

• Gently move the victim to shelter and warmth as rapidly as possible.
• Gently remove all wet clothing;cut it away if necessary. The small amount of heat energy the victim has left must not be expended on warming and drying wet clothing.
• Wrap the victim in blankets or a sleeping bag. If available, place warm water bottles or other gentle sources of heat under the blanket on the victim's neck, groin, and on the sides of the chest.

3. Transport the victim to a hospital as soon as possible. Only a physician should determine when the patient should be released. Incorrect treatment of hypothermia victims may induce a condition known as After-Drop. After-Drop is a continued fall in the victim's core temperature even after he has been rescued. This is caused by improper rewarming, allowing cold,stagnant blood from the extremities to return to the core of the body. When this cold blood returns to the core of the body it may drop the core temperature below a level that will sustain life. For the same reason, hypothermia victims must be handled gently and should not be allowed to walk.

DO NOT:

1. Place an unconscious victim in a bath tub.
2. Give a victim anything to drink,including hot liquids and especially alcohol.
3. Rub the victim's skin (especially do not rub it with snow).

Information provided by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Boating Programs

By Megan Nelson