Cold Water Safety Procedures

Education and common sense are the two most important factors in dealing with cold water situations.

What are the dangers of cold water? Cold water is frightening. Heat is lost at an incredible rate. The body cools off some 25 times faster in water than in air. This is especially dangerous for athletes who have little body fat. However, survival time varies according to age, gender, body size, weight and general health. These factors should be taken into consideration before one decides to go for a row in cold water situations.

What happens? Nerve activity and muscle movement ability go away very soon. It is not the core temperature that drops quickly, rather the shell temperature. A rower’s brain may be fine initially, but his ability to grip will not be. This is one of the biggest dangers: a rower believes he/she can do things such as hold on to a boat or swim distances that in normal conditions would seem easy; but they, in fact, cannot. People rarely die of hypothermia; they drown! The main reason for this is that they cannot hold onto whatever flotation they have. In 40 degree water grip strength will be gone in about 15 minutes.

Another reason people drown is Sudden Disappearance Syndrome. Someone falls in and just sinks. This is caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm causing the subject to exhale forcefully. The natural response to this is to inhale immediately after the forced exhale and therefore take in water. This same syndrome will make it difficult to hold your breath, so don’t try to swim under the boat. The danger of this syndrome usually lasts about three to five minutes. In addition, your rate of breathing will be more rapid and shallower. You should anticipate these events and stay calm.

What you should do if you are confronted with sudden immersion in cold water.

First, get your head above water! Second, get a hold of your boat and begin to get as much of your body out of the water as possible. It is probably not a good idea to try to get yourself back into the boat. This could well exhaust you and leave you incapable of pursuing any other options. If you do try to get back in, figure that you will have only one chance. Do not hold anything back. If you are not 100% sure that you can do this in one try, it is probably best not to try. Once on top of your boat, collect your thoughts. Try to conserve energy. How far you are from shore should determine whether you try to maneuver your boat by either kicking or paddling or some combination or leaving your boat and swimming. It has been a common practice and often taught as dogma to never leave your boat. However, this will do you no good if you cannot hold on to your boat. Remember, in 40 degree water you have around 15 minutes to hold onto anything.

Never try to swim to shore without flotation! Place one scull under each arm for support if you do not have a pfd.

Use Common sense!

During winter months, I would not row below Weeks Bridge where you will encounter sea walls which will make exiting the water difficult. Certainly, it seems a good idea to stay out of the Basin.  It is best to go upstream where you can stay close to shore. Also, don’t go too far from the boathouse. Go back and forth. Be sensible.

• Find a pfd which will allow you to row comfortably. There are any number of these available.
• Bring your cell phone enclosed in a waterproof bag.
• Have an extra set of warm clothes which you can change into back at the boathouse. 
• Arrive at the boathouse prepared to handle the possibility that you may get wet and stay safe.
• Row with others if possible.

Gordon Hamilton, Nov.26, 2008