The changing seasons

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, 

Northern Minnesota

We all had a great summer, fall is fantastic, colorful, campfires and some activities on the open water now. Now is time for the cold water events to start — fall fishing, water fowl hunting, and some cruises are the fun of choice. These are accompanied by cold open water.

What comes with this is hypothermia, drowning, water extracts, improper life jackets. Any one of these influences can cause a long stay in the hospital or even completely missing the hunting and holiday season and all the ones in the future. Water temperatures are starting to fall below the 60 degree F mark. Hypothermia at or near freezing water temperature is roughly 10 to 15 minutes. Then you become unconscious, roll over on your face and drown. A life jacket is needed to extend the time and it must be the proper kind. The life jacket you wear in the summer isn’t much help now. Just like the sweatshirt or jacket for summer isn’t much use in the fall or winter. Any life jacket is some help. The best one now is the single, uncool type 2-3 horse collar type. It will turn you face up, allowing rescuers a few more minutes, if they are available, to get you out of the water. The horse collar also is an easier fit over heavy fall and winter clothes.

The next must-have item for extracting yourself out of the water in cold water is a six foot line wrapped around your waist; this will assist you or your rescuers to bounce and pull you back into your boat or blind. Don’t rely on your rescuers to have theo proper equipment, they may not have read this advice. For ice up there are ice picks. These relatively cheap devices can be the difference of life or death. They are easily stowed and readily deployable in the case that you take the unplanned dunk. Is seven to 10 dollars worth your life? Not much for a small unobtrusive device; wear them like stringed mittens in your fishing or hunting  jacket and you will always have the means to drag yourself out of the freezing life-ending water up into your boat or onto the ice. There you will at least have a chance to make it to safety. In the water at 33 to 60 degrees you have no chance. Total cost of safety in the water or on the ice, about 17 dollars. Are you or your family worth it? It’s still your call. Be prepared and have fun.

For more information on cold water and ice safety contact the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary of Northern Minnesota at uscgaux9130@live.com.