Here's an item that we will be running in an upcoming issue of the
magazine.
It's written by USCG officer Jeffrey Pollinger, and offers some useful
insight:

Cold Water Immersion: The Shocking Reality
by Jeffrey Pollinger
Think you're a good swimmer? It may not matter if you suddenly and
unexpectedly end up in the frigid coastal and inland waters of the
Pacific Northwest. Every year, dozens of swimmers and boaters drown in
lakes, rivers and coastal waters in the Pacific Northwest. But it may
surprise you that many victims don't die as a result of poor swimming
skills or the effects of hypothermia, but from the immediate effects
of cold water immersion, or cold water shock.

Unlike hypothermia, the effects of cold water immersion can lead to
death in just a few minutes and in some cases, instantly.

Sudden entry into the water can cause cardiac arrest, even for people
in good health. The shock of the cold water can also cause an
involuntary gasp reflex that can cause victims to inhale water and
drown. After just a few minutes, the ability to swim or tread water
is impaired as the victim loses muscular coordination. All of this
can occur in water as warm as 69 degrees.

"Sudden cold-water immersion is a phenomenon that is becoming more
recognized as a cause of death as compared to hypothermia," Said Dan
Shipman, recreational boating safety specialist with the Coast Guard's
Thirteenth District office in Seattle.

True hypothermia usually doesn't normally set in until at least 30
minutes after being in the water, depending on body size and type,
insulation of clothing and other factors. Even then, victims can
survive for hours before losing consciousness and drowning.

So what can be done to protect yourself from the effects of cold water
shock? Wear a survival suit or personal floatation device.

Survival suits, which keep cold water away from the body, minimize the
loss of body heat and muscular coordination. That gives victims a
better chance to climb back onto an overturned boat, swim to shore or
signal for help.

PFD's are just as important. Because a PFD keeps a person's head above
the water, the potentially deadly effects of the gasp reflex that can
lead to aspiration and drowning are minimized. A PFD also provides
some protection from the cold water and makes the wearer more
visible.

But PFD's and survival suits are virtually useless unless they are
worn at the time someone becomes immersed in cold water.

"Amazingly, many people are not prepared for accidental immersion in
cold water by already wearing a survival suit or PFD. They think that,
if worst comes to worst, I'll just put it on in the water. That's a
difficult enough task in warm water and calm conditions. In cold
water, it's nearly impossible". Said Ted Rankine, former chair of the
Canadian Safe Boating Council.

Experts say that there are other things you can do to increase your
chances of survival if you do end up in the water. First, don't panic.
Keep your head above the water and concentrate on breathing. If you
can find a way to get out of the water, do it quickly.

Better yet, wear your PFD or survival suit and stay out of the cold
water.

For more information about cold water immersion and boating safety
visit the Coast Guard Boating Safety website at this link:
http://www.uscgboating.org/