No. H 221/08
For release - October 22, 2008
OTTAWA - Transport Canada's Office of Boating Safety in partnership with Cold Water Boot Camp, an education campaign, would like to raise awareness among Canadian boaters of the deadly effects of cold water during the fall season and remind boaters of important safety rules when navigating on cold water.
The Office of Boating Safety has been working with the Canadian Safe Boating Council, one of the major partners supporting this new initiative, and other organizations to implement Cold Water Boot Camp, which was approved in 2007 to run for three years. The Government of Canada is contributing a total of $424,700 to this program through the Search and Rescue New Initiatives Fund, managed by the National Search and Rescue Secretariat.
"The Government of Canada is concerned with the average of 149 people who die every year due to cold water immersion," said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. "This new initiative is providing Canadians with an education program to inform, motivate and change their behaviour, and to increase the survival of boaters when navigating in cold water."
The best-case scenario for cold water immersion is to reduce or prevent the risk of falling overboard or capsizing. It can be as simple as not overloading your boat or avoiding heavy wave conditions. Always ensure that everyone is wearing a Canadian-approved lifejacket because accidents can happen quickly and it is difficult to put a lifejacket on in the water.
"People mistakenly think if they can swim, they don't need a lifejacket. But when water is cold, sudden immersion can cause cold shock, involuntary gasping and deep hyperventilation. This is followed by cold incapacitation and in a short time, as the muscles and nerves in the limbs get cold, a person will lose the ability to self rescue or even swim," said Ted Rankine, Director of the Canadian Safe Boating Council. "Far too many people die within swimming distance of safety, such as a boat, dock or the shore, because of the initial effects of cold water immersion."
It's important to know that you lose body heat 25 times faster in water than in air at the same temperature, and that factor can be increased substantially with movement like swimming if you are not wearing thermal protection. The best choice in flotation equipment for cold water immersion is a type that offers maximum thermal protection such as a floater jacket and pants or a one-piece survival suit. If you find yourself in cold water, in addition to having proper flotation, there are some things you can do to delay the onset of hypothermia. Using the Heat Escape Lessening Position will help conserve body heat. If you're alone, drawing your legs up close to your chest and wrapping your arms around them in a tuck position will help conserve body heat. If you're in a group, huddling together as close as possible will also help conserve body heat.
As part of the project campaign, nine volunteers offered to demonstrate the dangerous effects of cold water by jumping in and experiencing firsthand what happens in 6°C water. For more information, or to see what really happens during cold water immersion, please visit Coldwater Bootcamp.
A backgrounder with further information about the effects of cold water and hypothermia is attached.
For more details on the Heat Escape Lessening Position, please visit Marine Safety.
For general boating safety tips or to obtain a free copy of the Safe Boating Guide, please visit Boating Safety.
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Contacts:
Catherine Loubier
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Ottawa
613-991-0700
Media Relations
Transport Canada, Ottawa
613-993-0055
Communications
Transport Canada, Prairie and Northern Region
204-983-6315
Jillian Glover
Communications
Transport Canada, Vancouver
604-666-1675
Marie-Anyk Côté
Communications
Transport Canada, Quebec
204-983-6315
Andrea Spitzer
Director of Communications
Transport Canada, Ontario
416-952-0156
Ted Rankine
Director
Canadian Safe Boating Council
905-989-0664
Steve Bone
Communications
Transport Canada, Nova Scotia
902-426-7795
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1- You must keep your airway clear or run the risk of drowning. The "gasp" reflex caused by cold shock will pass in about one minute. During that time don't panic, but get control of your breathing. Wearing a lifejacket during this phase is critically important to keep you afloat so you can concentrate on getting your breathing under control.
2- Focus on self rescue. If that isn't possible, be aware that you will become incapacitated and unable to swim. Wearing a lifejacket will allow you to keep your head above water and your airway clear while waiting for rescue.
3- Delay hypothermia. Even in ice water, without proper thermal protection it could take approximately one hour before you become unconscious due to hypothermia. If you understand the signs of hypothermia, the techniques to delay it including self rescue, and how to effectively call for help, your chances of survival and rescue will be dramatically increased.
Hypothermia can be divided into mild, moderate and severe stages1 . The following chart lists the signs and symptoms used in the classification of these three stages.
1Hypothermia, Frostbite and other Cold Injuries. G Giesbrecht and J.Wilkerson, second edition 2006 The Mountaineers
If there is no way to get to a medical facility within 30 minutes, a mildly hypothermic person should be warmed up as follows:
- Shivering is a very effective process, especially when the person is well insulated. Shivering should be fueled by calorie replacement with fluids containing sugars. The sugar content is actually more important than the heat in warm liquids. Make sure that the person is capable of ingesting liquids without aspirating. Alcohol and tobacco use should not be permitted because they constrict blood flow.
- External heat can be applied to high heat transfer areas such as the chest and underarms. Active heating of the skin is beneficial as it increases comfort, preserves energy stores and reduces cardiovascular stress.
- Light exercise such as walking produces heat but should only be attempted after a mildly hypothermic person is dry, has had calorie replacement and has been stable for at least 30 minutes. A warm shower or bath should never be given as part of the warming process.
This is a serious medical condition requiring proper handling and treatment, and in severe cases, immediate transport to a medical facility. There are some specific things you can do to help stabilize the individual prior to the arrival of paramedics.
- Great care must be taken in handling a moderate or severely hypothermic person. Extraction from the water must be as gentle as possible to avoid ventricular fibrillation. Nothing should be rubbed or manipulated. The person should be placed in a horizontal position, wet clothing gently cut from the body, and insulated as best as possible using dry blankets, clothing or other protective materials. If shelter is available, keep the person protected from the elements and insulated from the cold ground or snow using sleeping bags, clothing, backpacks or even evergreen boughs.
- If vital signs are present, the person should be warmed up as previously described but not allowed to sit or stand until warmed up. Under no circumstances should the person be placed in a warm shower or bath. No oral fluids or food should be given and no attempts should be made to warm up with exercise, including walking.
In any hypothermic individual, core body temperature continues to decrease after rescue. It is called "afterdrop" and may last many hours in a moderate to severely hypothermic person when no shivering is present and metabolic heat production may be less than 50 per cent of normal. Gradual warming of the heart will help avoid cardiac arrest and ventricular fibrillation.
October 2008
