In-Water Survival

• Paddling Safety
• Big Ships, Little Boats
• In-Water Survival
• Island Hazards
• Mooring
• Safety on the Trail
• Tying It All Together - Three Great Knots For Use Out On The Trail
• Weather

What to Do if You Go Overboard

For the human body to maintain a temperature of 98.6° F and survive an extended period of immersion in water, the water temperature must be above 91° F. Immersion in water below 70° F can profoundly affect the body’s metabolism and lead to drowning. Coastal Maine water temperatures average in the 60s and 70s during summer months, so going overboard can be very dangerous. Keep the following in mind if your boat capsizes or you have gone overboard:

• Signal for help as soon as possible. Keep a whistle and flare with you for use in the water. Yell and wave your arms to make yourself visible. Put the hood up on your float coat, coveralls, or foul weather gear; they are often bright and some have reflective tape on them.
• Stay with the boat. Make sure you do not abandon your vessel unless being on board is more dangerous than being in the water, such as in a storm. If your boat capsizes, beware of entrapment and hazardous floating debris. Once capsized, many vessels float due to air trapped inside their hulls. Staying with your vessel also makes you a bigger target for rescuers, and keeps you closer to your last reported position.
• If you have to enter the water, do so slowly. This will keep you drier and help you control your breathing. Abrupt immersion in cold water can lead to Sudden Drowning Syndrome, where cold water gets into your ear and causes you to lose your sense of direction. Keep your head dry and avoid the “drown proofing” technique of holding your breath and submerging your head under water.
• Stay afloat. Wearing a well-fitted, fastened PFD helps you to float higher and avoid swallowing or inhaling water. It can reduce your risk of panic and help you control the involuntary gasping that can occur in cold water. If you have a PFD with an inflatable bladder, inflate it as soon as you are in the water. Sinking boats leave much debris in their wake that can help you stay afloat and get higher out of the water.
• Stay dry. Water robs heat from your body 25 times faster than air of the same temperature, so do whatever you can to stay dry. Wetsuits, wool, polypropylene, and fleece can help keep you warm when wet, unlike cotton. In colder waters, leaving on clothes and boots and remaining still to minimize loss of air between layers is best. Immersion (dry) suits and deck coveralls can also greatly extend your in-water survival time. Refrain from opening an immersion suit to cool off; it’s critical to stay as dry as possible.
• Stay still. The decision to swim, or to remain still to conserve energy and reduce heat loss, is a judgment call that depends on the water temperature, distance, tides and currents, weather conditions and your proficiency as a swimmer. In cold water and when safety is not within easy reach, it is often best to stay still to maintain body heat. While body movement generally increases heat production, in cooler water less exercise is better. If you stay still you lose less heat—by as much as 30 percent—than if you are swimming or treading water. If you do decide to swim, use the stroke that is most easy and natural for you.
• Prolong your survival time by protecting your high heat - loss areas. head, neck, armpits, sides of the chest and groin. If you have a PFD, assume the Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) if alone, or the Huddle position if you are in a group (putting young, injured and elderly people in the middle). To assume the HELP position in rough waters, you will need to drop your legs straight down to maintain stability. Keep your thighs together, ankles crossed, and arms next to your sides. Cross your arms on your chest (as grasping your knees could put your face in the water).
• Stay together. Staying together in a huddle allows you to share body heat, to boost each other’s morale, to check on each other’s condition, and to be a more visible target for rescuers. The will to survive can be much stronger when friends and loved ones are at hand. Help each other: it’s harder to give up when you are part of a team.
• Stay positive. Your will to survive can mean the difference between life and death. It is well documented that depression lowers your body’s core temperature and reduces your will to live. Think positive thoughts about loved ones or places that you want to see again.