Instructions / Assembly
15
Cold Water Survival
When you’re in cold water, don’t swim unless you can
reach a nearby boat, fellow survivor, or oating object.
Even good swimmers drown while swimming in cold water.
Swimming lowers your body temperature.
If a nearby oating object is large, pull yourself up on it.
The more your body is out of the water, the warmer you’ll
be. Don’t use drownproong methods that call for putting
your face in the water. Keep your head out of the water to
lessen heat loss and increase survival time.
Use of the HELP position will lessen heat loss. However, if
you’re wearing a Type III PFD, or if the HELP position turns you
face down, bring your legs together tight and your arms tight
to your sides and your head back. See SURVIVAL position.
If there are others in the water, HUDDLE together
for warmth. Keep a positive outlook. It will improve your
chances of survival.
Always wear your PFD. Even if you become helpless
from hypothermia, your PFD will keep you aoat.
Example of
HELP position
(Type I PFD Illustated)
Example of
SURVIVAL position
(Type III PFD Illustrated)
HUDDLE