Mayor Simmons Reminds Residents About Boating Safety

Stamford CT

06 May, 2022

5:32 PM

Description

STAMFORD, CT — With the calendar flipped to May, Mayor Caroline Simmons and Public Safety Director Ted Jankowski are reminding residents about boating safety. Many Stamford residents enjoy the waterfront during the spring months, and boaters should remember the following tips from the U.S. Coast Guard: Cold Water Boating Cold-water immersion is the cause of many boating-related fatalities. The danger increases as water temperature decreases below normal body temperature, 98.6 degrees. Spring water temperatures can be in the 30-40 degrees early in the season. Do's and Don'ts Do make sure that there is an appropriately sized Personal Floatation Device (PFD) for each person onboard. If your boat is longer than 16 feet, you also need at least one additional Type 4, throwable PFD on board. Do make sure everyone is wearing their life jacket/PFD. Wearing a PFD is the law Oct. 1 to May 31 onboard a manually propelled vessel. Even excellent swimmers will experience shock within one minute in frigid water and lose muscle control within 10 minutes. Call 911 or VHF Channel 16 to report an emergency.Do share with someone you trust all the details of your trip before you leave shore - including boat, persons, towing or trailer vehicle, communication equipment and emergency contacts. This is your float plan. Do dress properly for the weather, always wear layers and bring an extra set of clothes in case you get wet. Remember, dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Do use your navigation lights to alert other boaters of your presence in dark and/or foggy conditions. Recreational boats operating at night are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise. Do catch your breath. A sudden, unexpected fall into cold water causes an involuntary gasp (or torso) reflex. It takes less than one-half cup of water in your lungs to drown. If you remain calm, you have a greater chance of self-rescue. Don't panic if you fall into the water. Stay afloat with the help of your life jacket, regain control of your breathing, and keep your head above water in vision of rescuers. Don't keep heavy boots on if you're in the water. Look for ways to increase your buoyancy. If you're in the water with others, huddle together with everyone facing inward to help everyone stay afloat and keep warm. Don't apply heat to extremities like arms and legs of a rescued victim. This sudden change in temperature could cause cardiac arrest. Stages of Cold-Water Immersion Cold shock. You have one minute to adjust to the cold shock response – don't panic. Swimming failure. You have 10 minutes of meaningful movement to get help and get out of the water. Hypothermia. You have about one hour before you become unconscious from hypothermia. Post-rescue collapse. You "give up" and collapse after or right at the time of rescue. For more information, tips and resources, visit the U.S. Coast Guard's website, or the National Safe Boating Council's website.