Exposure causes loss of body heat. This is called hypothermia. Hypothermia can kill. Defense against hypothermia is to avoid exposure to cold. Do this by staying dry and avoiding the wind. Put on rain gear before you get wet. If you fall into cold water, do NOT discard clothing; it will help trap heat. Avoid moving as much as possible. A life jacket helps in two ways; it reduces the need to move, and it helps insulate against heat loss. When you wear a life jacket, draw knees up into a H.E.L.P. (Heat Escape Lessening Position). If several persons are in the water, huddle together so you can conserve heat and stay alive.

Care involves getting the victim out of the wet clothes. Warm the victim gradually by wrapping him or her in blankets or putting on dry clothing and moving into a warm environment. If the victim is alert, give warm liquids to drink that do not contain alcohol or caffeine. DO NOT warm the victim too quickly, by immersing in warm water, for instance, as this can cause dangerous heart rhythms. Transport the victim to a medical facility.

COLD WATER BOOT CAMP     8 Volunteers...45 F. Water...Minutes to Survive

IT's A FLIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE!!!

Cold water is a significant contributing factor to drowning during boating and other water related recreational activities. But only recently are boating educators starting to better understand the real reason.

MYTH - You don't need a lifejacket "if you are close to shore", or "because you can swim" and that "you can put a lifejacket on in the water" if you need it.

FACT - In 90% of drownings a life jacket was not warm. Research has also demonstrated that in cold water, under 59 degrees, the risk of drowning increases by 500%, and many of those drownings will occur within 6 feet of safety.

REALITY - Cold Water Boot Camp USA takes eight hardy volunteers from across America and puts them into cold water to learn what really happens. The instructor is Dr, Gordon Giesbrecht, Professor of Thermophysiology at the University of Manitoba, Canada and an expert in the study of the effects of cold water on the human body.

1-10-1 Principle Video   Click Here

Under Gr. Giesbrecht's (AKA Professor Popsicle") watchful eye, the volunteers personally experience the three effects of Cold Water Immersion - cold water shock, cold incapacitation and even hypothermia. Along the way Dr. Giesbrecht provides valuable information about how to better survive an accidental fall into cold water and the Boot Capers face the indisputable fact - that the difference between becoming a Statistic and a Survivor...is wearing a Lifejacket.

This Video program provided by the National Water Safety Congress 

Posters used in the Information Kiosk at the Green Space in the Amusement Park

      For more information:

See Outdoor Action Guide website - click on  OUTDOOR ACTION GUIDE

Check out US Search & Rescue Task Force - click on SEARCH & RESCUE