When most people think of boating, they imagine a beautiful, sun-filled summer afternoon cruising across a smooth lake or riding the soft swells of ocean waves. However, there are many reasons someone might brave the waters during winter. There are many perilous winter boating hazards, but none more than hypothermia.
How To Avoid Hypothermia
The most common way to experience hypothermia while boating is to fall into cold water. If this happens, extract yourself from the water as quickly as possible.
In these situations, you most likely wore several layers of thick clothing to protect yourself from the cold. But once wet, these layers of warmth can spell disaster. Immediately strip out of these clothes. They only contain cold, not heat.
Once out of the clothes, don’t wrap the body in a blanket. Since your body is so cold, it will be impossible to generate warmth on its own. Instead, find a source of heat, like a fireplace or space heater, and absorb as much warmth as possible. Only once your body has returned to a normal temperature should you dress or wrap yourself in a blanket.
Boating in the winter can be hazardous for the uninitiated. Arm yourself with this new knowledge the next time you’re on the water in freezing temperatures.