You might have seen the news over the last couple of days, Two childhood mates who spent four hours in a chilly Lake Taupo without lifejackets after their dinghy capsized.

Fortunately they were rescued in time and both are safe and well.

But it does serve as a reminder to those who are out and about doing winter training to take care. According to the news article the pair were only 300m from shore.

Are you prepared for the worst case scenario?

While you must have one life jacket per person on board the Waka at all times, have you ever though about how you and your team will get them off the canoe and put them on in the dark?
Would it be better to just wear them at night?

What if someone gets separated from the canoe in the dark, you can't see them, how will you locate them?

Have you checked the weather conditions?
Rough weather is a lot harder to navigate in the dark.

Does someone know that you have gone out, and what time you are due back?
It doesn't take much to txt someone before you head out.
Depending on the water temperature, they might only have 4 hours in which to find you, if you run into trouble.


Some facts about cold water rescue from the
United States Search and Rescue Task Force website

WHAT TO DO IN THE WATER

Cold water robs the body's heat 32 times faster than cold air. If you should fall into the water, all efforts should be given to getting out of the water by the fastest means possible.

Persons boating in the cold water months should be thoroughly skilled in rescue and self-rescue techniques. Most accidents involve small boats which with practice, can be righted and re-entered. Most boats, even filled with water, will support the weight of its occupants. If the boat has capsized and cannot be made right, climb on top of it.

Physical exercise such as swimming causes the body to lose heat at a much faster rate than remaining still in the water. Blood is pumped to the extremities and quickly cooled. Few people can swim 1500m in 10deg water. Should you find yourself in cold water and are not able to get out, you will be faced with a critical choice - to adopt a defensive posture in the water to conserve heat and wait for rescue, or attempt to swim to safety.

Should you find yourself in the water, avoid panic. Air trapped in clothing can provide buoyancy as long as you remain still in the water. Swimming or treading water will greatly increase heat loss and can shorten survival time by more than 50%.

The major body heat loss areas are the head, neck, armpits, chest and groin. If you are not alone, huddle together or in a group facing each other to maintain body heat.

Normal body temperature is 37deg. Shivering and the sensation of cold can begin when the body temperature lowers to approximately 35deg. Amnesia can begin to set in at approximately 34deg, unconsciousness at 30deg and death at approximately 26deg.



Source of information (has been converted from imperial units)
http://www.ussartf.org/cold_water_survival.htm

Capsize Article
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7018786/Don-t-give-up-mates-cling-to-life-in-lake