Cold-water boating safety

October 30, 2020| Safety

By: Lake Hopatcong Foundation

As temperatures drop, it's important to take extra precautions when out on the water. Cold-water immersion is the cause of many preventable boating-related fatalities with the danger increasing as water temperatures decrease. So we would like to remind you of the following dos and don'ts of cold-water boating from the National Safe Boating Council. And remember when heading out on your favorite waterbody, tell someone you trust who is not going with you any pertinent details such as where you are going, who is going with you, and when you plan to return. Enjoy these fall days and stay safe! 

Dos and Don’ts of Cold-Water Boating

• Do make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket. Even experienced swimmers will experience shock within one minute in the frigid water and lose muscle control within 10 minutes.
• Do dress properly for the weather, always wear layers, and bring an extra set of clothes in case you get wet. Remember, dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature.
• Do use your navigation lights to alert other boaters of your presence in dark and/or foggy conditions. Recreational boats operating at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise.
• Do catch your breath. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water causes an involuntary gasp (or torso) reflex. It takes less than one-half cup of water in your lungs to drown. If you remain calm, you have a greater chance of self-rescue.
• Don’t panic if you fall into the water. Stay afloat with the help of your life jacket, regain control of your breathing and keep your head above water in vision of rescuers.
• Don’t keep heavy boots on if you’re in the water. Look for ways to increase your buoyancy. If you’re in the water with others, huddle together with everyone facing inward to help everyone stay afloat and keep warm.
• Don’t apply heat to extremities like arms and legs of a rescued victim. This sudden change in temperature could cause cardiac arrest.

Stages of Cold-Water Immersion

• Cold shock. You have one minute to adjust to the cold shock response – don’t panic.
• Swimming failure. You have 10 minutes of meaningful movement to get help and get out of the water.
• Hypothermia. You have about one hour before you become unconscious from hypothermia.
• Post-rescue collapse. You “give up” and collapse after or right at the time of rescue.

Cold-Water Survival 

Be prepared with this informative brochure on cold-water survival from the American Canoe Association.

Cold-Water Survival Brochure

Tips for Cold-Water Paddling

Tips to paddle safer during the colder months from Kayak Hipster.