New England waters are dangerously cold

BOSTON - The Coast Guard is issuing a safety advisory to all late season boaters, paddlers, and fisherman on the dangers of sudden cold-water immersion.

Water temperatures on inland and coastal Northeastern waters are below 50 F and the First Coast Guard District has suffered the loss of 54 recreational boaters and paddlers this year. Only one person was wearing a life jacket.

“Even for the most experienced mariner, a fall into cold water is painfully shocking,” said Al Johnson, the recreational boating specialist for the First Coast Guard District in Boston.

“On sudden cold-water immersion there will be shock, panic, gasping, hyperventilation and an immediate rise in breath and heart rates and blood pressure and an inability to hold your breath.,” said Johnson. “Without a life jacket, it is extremely difficult to maintain floatation or swim.”

Since Labor Day, there have been 18 boating and paddling fatalities on Northeast waters. None were wearing a life jacket, said Johnson.

“The important thing to remember is this can happen to anyone and, if it does, simply wearing your life jacket could save your life,” said Johnson. “Plain and simple, when you need your life jacket, you need it on.”

Johnson also notes that for paddlers on Massachusetts and Connecticut waters, life jacket wear is mandatory through May 2009.

Not wearing a life jacket is like playing Russian Roulette with your life

LOS ANGELES - This past weekend the Coast Guard and other rescuers searched the waters about 100 feet from a breakwater in southern California for a man who fell overboard from a small boat. The man was not wearing a lifejacket. Unfortunately stories like this are not that uncommon, boaters and their passengers unexpectedly find themselves in the water all too often. Some survive and unfortunately some do not. This man did not survive. Not wearing a life jacket while boating, including, canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle-boarding is like playing “Russian Roulette.” The chances of a non-swimmer surviving a fall overboard if not wearing a lifejacket are remote if not rescued quickly.

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Is Your Life Worth More than $15.00?

U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets range in price from as low as $15.00 to about $400.00 for the top of the line inflatable, although, even the most expensive life jacket is worthless if it is not worn.

With the long Fourth of July holiday just a few days away the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary points out that life jacket wear is “critical” to surviving a boating accident. Ninety percent of boaters who drown were not wearing their life jackets, and according to Coast Guard statistics life jackets could prevent approximately two-thirds of all boating-related drownings of children ages 14 and under. Holiday weekends are especially dangerous times for boating. In California for example, nearly 20% of all boating accidents occur during the three summer holiday weekends of Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day, according to the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW). Not wearing life jackets increases that danger.

Most boating accidents are caused by operator inattention, inexperience, and speeding resulting in collisions. Remembering and following a few simple boating rules of the road, such as keeping a sharp lookout for other boat traffic, can help prevent collisions on congested waterways.

In congested areas, intoxicated operators and passengers increase the already high risk of accident. Alcohol and boating are a deadly mix, especially when combined with stressors in the marine environment, such as sun, glare, wind, heat, and boat and engine noise. Last year, 21% of boating fatalities were alcohol related, and half of those who died were passengers whose intoxication contributed to their deaths, according to the DBW.

Those who recreate on rivers and lakes, especially kayakers and other paddle craft operators, should be aware that in some areas the water is still cold from late snow melt. The current may be swift, strong and not always visible. River conditions can change quickly due to weather and water releases, resulting in increased hazard.

Parents should keep a watchful eye on children playing in or around the water, and are advised to put properly fitting Coast Guard approved life jackets on little ones when they’re wading as an added safety measure. Adults should also take precautions for their own safety. A commonly seen accident scenario, parents insure the children are wearing life jackets, but neglect to wear life jackets themselves, instead relying on their swimming ability to keep them safe.

Swimming out too far, or attempting to retrieve gear in the water, and being swept away by currents, are all scenarios when the persons would have survived if they had been wearing their life jackets.

The July 4th weekend could be safer this year if boaters remember to maintain a proper lookout, wear their life jackets, and don’t boat under the influence of alcohol.

Coast Guard salvages fishing boat in Barnegat Inlet, N.J.

BARNEGAT LIGHT, N.J. - The Coast Guard salvaged a 14-foot fishing boat Tuesday off the south jetty in Barnegat Inlet here after the crewmember aboard fell in the water.

The Coast Guard received a call at 7:28 p.m. from a Good Samaritan reporting an unmanned 14-foot fishing boat doing circles near the south jetty in Barnegat Inlet.

A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light arrived on scene to search for possible people in the water.

In the meantime, another Good Samaritan recovered the crewmember in the water and transported him to Station Barnegat Light where he was transfered to emergency medical personnel. He was reported in good condition.

The person rescued by the Good Samaritan was not wearing a life jacket.

“Life jackets can’t help you unless you’re wearing one,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Bontempo, a crewmember at Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light.

Coast Guard Works With National Park Service to Rescue Two

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard and North Carolina National Park Service rescued two people whose boat capsized in the surf off Coquina Beach, near Oregon Inlet, N.C., this morning.

Coast Guard watch standers at Station Oregon Inlet received a call from a retired Coast Guardsman at 8:25 a.m. stating there were two people in the water at Coquina beach.

Station Oregon Inlet dispatched a beach rescue party to the scene along with rescue crews aboard a 25-foot rescue boat and a 47-foot motor lifeboat.

Upon their arrival, rescue teams found one person in the water between the boat and the surf and the other clinging to the bow of the capsized vessel.

“The person in the water was screaming for help,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Clifford Henry.

Henry, along with Chief Lifeguard Jimmy Davis of the National Park Service, rescued the first man from the water.

Davis then swam out to the boat and brought the second person to the beach.

Both men were rescued before the 25-foot rescue boat and 47-foot motor lifeboat arrived on scene.

“The biggest thing I would recommend is to wear a life jacket, and also pay attention to the water conditions and temperature,” said Henry.

Master Chief Lars Kent, the officer in charge at Station Oregon Inlet, said his station routinely teams up with local agencies during search and rescue cases.

“At least 20 percent of all the rescue cases that we’re involved with here are in cooperation with local water rescue units, fire departments, and National Park Service assets,” said Kent.