Page 19 - Mid America Boating - January 2022 issue

What you should do if you think you or some- • Always wear a life jacket while boating. 19 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] JANUARY/FEBRUAR 2022
one on your boat is experiencing hypothermia: • If you wind up in the water, try not to panic
• Immediately call for help using VHF channel 16 as it can increase heat loss from your body and
or call 911. shorten your survival time…remain in a curled
• Warm and restore the warmth of the victim up, heat-retaining position.
slowly. • Stick with your capsized boat and try to get as
• Start CPR, if needed, while continuing to gradu- much of your body out of the water as possible.
ally warm the person. • Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages while
• Give warm fluids to the victim. boating…they allow heat to escape from the
• Keep their body temperature up by keeping body more quickly because alcohol dilates
them wrapped up in a blanket. (You should have blood vessels.
several emergency blankets on board.) And always wear your life jacket! Please
wear it because remember that heat loss
Preventing Hypothermia is about planning will make it hard to use your fingers after
and awareness: experiencing hypothermia. MAB
To prevent exposure to hypothermia, the Coast
Guard Auxiliary provides the following key advice: David G. Epstein, BC-DAE, FSO-PA is an officer with
• Know the weather conditions before you set the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary which is the uniformed
out…don’t leave your port or dock if the weather Auxiliary of Team Coast Guard. He is a Branch Chief
may turn rough. in the National Diversity Directorate and Staff Officer
• File a float plan to tell your friends and family for Flotilla 14-05-03 in New York City. For more
where you are going and when you plan to return. information, please visit http://cgaux.org

Boating Association of Ohio Has Your Stern.

Legislative Public Safety Environmental

The BAO is the advocate of recreational boaters and the boating industry in Ohio.

Our mission is to promote and protect boating in the buckeye state for the half-million Ohio boat owners, the
thousands of Ohioans who earn a living through the boating industry, and the numerous visitors drawn to Ohio for
water recreation.

From Lake Erie in the north to the mighty Ohio River in the south, the BAO is making waves to promote and protect
boating in the state!

Join us!

Support the BAO and our initiatives.
Go to boatohio.com and become a member today!

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