Stearns Recreational 0340 manual Some Points to Remember About Hypothermia Protection

Some Points to Remember About Hypothermia Protection:

1.Always wear your PFD. Even if you become incapacitated due to hypothermia, the PFD will keep you afloat and greatly improve your chances of rescue.

2.Do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach a nearby craft, fellow survivor, or a floating object on which you can lean or climb. Swimming increases the rate of body heat loss. In cold water, drown-proofing methods that require putting your head in the water are not recommended. Keep your head out of the water. This will greatly lessen heat loss and increase your survival time.

3.To conserve body heat use the standard H.E.L.P. position. Keep your arms as close to your body as possible to reduce the amount of skin surface that is exposed to the water. Keeping water out of your arm pits is especially important. Drawing your legs up into a seated position with your knees together will also help to conserve body heat.

4.Keep a positive attitude about your survival and rescue. This will improve your chances of extending your survival time until rescued. Your will-to- live does make a difference!

5.If there is more than one person in the water, huddling is recommended while waiting to be rescued. This action tends to reduce the rate of heat loss and thus increase the survival time.

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