Coast Guard Auxiliary warns boaters of cold water immersion

 

 

 

News Release

November 16, 2009

Contact: Anthony Turner
Public Affairs Officer
310-488-0723
anthony.j.turner@uscg.mil
http://www.news.auxpa.org/

Coast Guard Auxiliary warns boaters of cold water immersion

WASHINGTON - Winter boating season is upon us and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is reminding boaters about the risk of cold water immersion.  The ocean and lake temperatures are their coldest this time of year and even a strong swimmer can experience difficulty if they accidentally find themselves in cold water.

“When boaters fall into cold water, it can take just a few minutes before their ability to swim and rescue themselves becomes compromised.  The real risks can take effect in the first few seconds,” said California Department of Boating and Waterways Director Raynor Tsuneyoshi.  “The use of a life jacket increases their survival.”

The effects of cold water immersion are predictable and well documented by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a thermophysiologist with the University of Manitoba and a world expert on freezing to death through his 1-10-1 principle:

• 1 minute:  Upon accidental immersion the body reacts with an involuntary GASP followed by hyperventilation of up to 10 times regular breathing.  If your head is underwater during that initial deep gasp you can inhale enough water to drown.  Do not panic.  Breathing will return to close to normal.
• 10 minutes:  In cold water a person will become INCAPACITATED to the point that the muscles in their limbs stop working and they will no longer be able to swim or rescue themselves.  Try to rescue yourself before incapacitation becomes a factor and if you cannot, at least try to get as much of your body out of the water as possible to delay the onset of hypothermia.
• 1 hour: After an hour, depending on the water temperature, the body continues to cool and the resulting HYPOTHERMIA can create a range of symptoms from confusion to unconsciousness and eventually leading to death.

The best way to survive an accidental cold water immersion is to wear your life jacket.  It will help keep your head above water in the event of an accidental immersion until you can get your breathing under control.  It will also keep you afloat while you concentrate on rescuing yourself.  If you are unable to rescue yourself, your life jacket can provide some thermal protection against the onset of hypothermia and keep you afloat until someone else can rescue you.

Boaters are also advised to file a float plan before heading out on the water. 

The chances of successfully locating an overdue boat are much greater if the U.S. Coast Guard or other rescue agencies have certain facts about the boat trip that may be included on a float plan.  For your own safety and before boating, file a float plan with a reliable person who will notify authorities if necessary.

For more information on safe boating or to fill out a float plan, please visit www.BoatSmarter.com <http://www.boatsmarter.com/>  or call (888) 326-2822.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, America’s Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service's missions.

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U.S.S. New York entrance into New York City

Press Release

Contact: Dee Thompson
Public Affairs Officer
732-321-0760
Scottieth@comcast.net
http://www.news.auxpa.org/

U.S.S. NEW YORK Entrance into New York City

NEW YORK – As the United States Navy’s newest naval assault vessel the USS New York sailed into New York Harbor on Monday, November 2, 2009 members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary were there to meet her, on the water as part of her safety patrol.

The USS New York was forged with 7.5 tons of steel salvaged from the 9/11 World Trade Center Disaster Site. The 684 foot long ship is capable of speeds in excess of 22 knots to land a surge of 800 US Marines. It carries two CH53E Super Stallion, Two MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft, four CH-46 Sea Knight, Four AH-1 Sea Cobra or UH-1 Iroquois helicopters.

Built and christened in Louisiana, this ship made this voyage to New York for its formal Commissioning Ceremony that will take place on November 7^th. She is the fifth ship to be named for New York. Prior ships were a gondola (1776), a frigate (1800-1814), armored cruiser (1893-1938), and a battleship (1914-1946).

The USS New York sailed into New York harbor accompanied by vessels from the New York City Police and Fire Departments, the United States Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as the US Army Corp of Engineer. US Coast Guard Auxiliary members manned not only the vessels “Lady B” and “Long Splice” but were also deployed on the United States Coast Guard Cutter Sturgeon Bay.

On September 11^th, 2001 the Coast Guard Auxiliary responded to the World Trade Center disaster in lower Manhattan by foot and boat. The Auxiliary had numerous vessels responding ferrying people, Coast Guardsman and supplies to and from lower Manhattan. Coast Guard Auxiliarists worked long tedious hours into the night, side by side with other first responders, during those extensive rescue efforts.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary has been actively supporting the waterways of this nation for 70 years and will continue to respond to any and all emergencies and support of the United States Coast Guard.

The USS New York mission of defending freedom around the globe is characterized by the ship’s moto – WE WILL NEVER FORGET! The victims and responders, including the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will never forget or falter.

Coast Guard Auxiliary member stands watch as the USS New York sails by (USCGAUX photo)

Boaters…Save a Life – Yours! Education, Planning, Preparation, and Life Jackets Save Lives.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs

PRESS RELEASE

Date: March 6, 2009

Contact: Anthony Turner
Public Affairs Officer
310-488-0723
anthony.j.turner@uscg.mil
http://www.news.auxpa.org/

Boaters…Save a Life – Yours!

Education, Planning, Preparation, and Life Jackets Save Lives.

The media has been saturated with the gripping story of four athletes who went fishing off Clearwater, Florida last week.  National Football League players Victor "Marquis" Cooper and Cory Smith along with former University of South Florida football players Will Bleakley and Nick Schuyler were thrown into the sea when their boat capsized.  Schuyler was rescued and is recuperating from the effects of exposure. These men set off confident in their knowledge and skill, but were overpowered by nature. The tragic result of an enjoyable outing of four friends reminds us all to take proper care when setting out upon the waters. 

According to the Center for Disease Control, the number of people who die in recreational boating accidents each year is about the same as those who perish in general aviation accidents.  There is a high perception of the potential dangers inherent in aviation, while boating is thought to be relatively safe. In most places a person with no boating experience can rent a boat and take to the high seas – no questions asked. The same is not true for operating an airplane or even an automobile.

Most boating accidents are preventable.   It starts by everyone on a boat wearing a properly fitting U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket.  Wearing a life jacket will keep you afloat and help delay the effects of hypothermia.  LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES.  

Education, planning and preparation are also vital to a successful boating outing.

Education: Whether your state requires boater education or not, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary urges that every boater takes a Boater Education class. Just like an automobile or an airplane, operating a boat requires more than just throttling up or setting a sail and getting underway. There are navigation rules, weather considerations, knowing how to respond to a person overboard, knowing how to place a distress call and knowing how to respond when you are physically unable, among other bits of knowledge.  EDUCATED BOATERS SAVE LIVES; take a boating safety class.

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Preparation and Planning: Have your boat checked out to make sure it complies with applicable Federal and State regulations for boats.  These checks conducted by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron help make sure that you have needed safety equipment on your boat.  SAFE BOATS SAVE LIVES; get a Vessel Safety Check (www.safetyseal.net.)

File a Float Plan (www.floatplancentral.com) with a friend or other relative.  Make sure they know where you plan on boating and when you plan on returning.  They also need to know who to call if you do not return at the indicated time. 

Make sure you have effective communications for your boating outing.   A marine band VHF-FM radio can be extremely valuable, but has limited range. Additionally, cell phones become less effective the further you are from shore and may receive no signal at all beyond 15-20 miles. 

Take a lesson from the Boy Scouts  - "Be Prepared" for sudden and dramatic changes in weather whether you are couple of miles offshore or twenty miles away from land.   It is common for fog to develop or strong winds to start blowing.  Listen to weather forecasts before you go and on your VHF-FM marine radio while underway.  Many times, weather near shore is significantly calmer than weather offshore and knowing the forecast for your intended destination can help you decide whether to leave the dock, stay in more protected areas or even stay at home. 

What if you do end up in the water unintentionally? If you are wearing your life jacket you’re half way there.  If the boat does capsize, keep everyone together and stay with the boat.  Electronic Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB’s) and Personal Position Indicating Radio Beacon or PPIRB’s are life savers.  PPIRB’s are attached to your life jacket.  We’ll call them all EPIRB’s from now on.  When an EPIRB gets activated, it sends a signal to the Coast Guard telling us you are in distress and providing your exact location. 

Flares, mirrors, strobe lights, whistles, and other signaling devices allow rescuers to quickly locate people who are already in the water and need help.  The Coast Guard will search at night as well as during daylight and anything that will make you more visible significantly aids your ability to be detected.

Again, always wear a life jacket.  LIFE JACKETS SAVE LIVES!

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Vessel Safety Checks Not Affected By Recession – They Are Still Free

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs

PRESS RELEASE

Date: March 6, 2009

Contact: Anthony Turner
Public Affairs Officer
310-488-0723
anthony.j.turner@uscg.mil
http://www.news.auxpa.org/

Vessel Safety Checks Not Affected By Recession – They Are Still Free

LOS ANGELES - As the weather around the country gets warmer and with the increase in daylight hours more and more recreational boaters are getting out on the water. Before hitting the water, the Coast Guard Auxiliary urges boaters to make sure they have the required safety equipment and that it is in working order by taking advantage of a free Vessel Safety Check.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary has been conducting free Vessel Safety Checks since 1947. Unaffected by recession or inflation they were free then and still free today.

Vessel Safety Checks are conducted by qualified members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and are the best way of learning about problems that might be a violation of state or federal laws and provide the boating public with additional safety tips that could possibly mitigate or eliminate preventable danger on the water. To find a Vessel Examiner go to www.safetyseal.org. Vessel Safety Checks can be conducted on any type of watercraft from boats, personal watercraft, to kayaks.

Life jackets, fire extinguishers, and distress signals are just some of the items that are required by federal regulations.  The Coast Guard also suggests boaters equip their vessels with a marine VHF radio, GPS device, and 406 MHz EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon).

Aside from being prepared for an emergency, another advantage  of getting the free Vessel Safety Check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary is that there aren't any penalties associated with not passing.  Those who do pass will be able to display this year's Vessel Safety Check decal on their boat.

Now is also a great time to take advantage of one of the many boating safety courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and become acquainted or reacquainted with basic boating skills, seamanship and the most current rules and regulations that may also save a live or prevent and accident.

For more information about boating safety visit the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division website at: www.uscgboating.org/.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, America’s Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service's missions.

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Boy Scouts of America & U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Agreement Signed - Agreement will provide additional boating and water safety outreach

 

Contact: Keith Christopher                                                  Contact: Anthony Turner

Director, National Events                                         Chief, Media Relations Division

972-580-7810                                                                                              310-488-0723

keith.christopher@scouting.org                 anthony.j.turner@uscg.mil 

http://www.scouting.org/Media.aspx                 www.news.auxpa.org

April 2, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Boy Scouts of America & U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Agreement Signed

Agreement will provide additional boating and water safety outreach

WASHINGTON & IRVING, TX – The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Boy Scouts of America announced today that the two organizations have signed a Memorandum of Agreement. The two organizations will collaborate on projects that support recreational boating safety and promote citizenship training and character development, including public education programs, water safety educational outreach, and volunteer support.

The agreement calls on the two organizations to work together in educating members in a wide variety of boating and nautical subjects and promoting citizenship training and character development. The Auxiliary is currently working with Boy Scouts in recreational boating safety areas such as, National Scout Jamboree, boating safety classes, providing vessel safety checks for Scout boats, and holding “Safety at Sea” training events for Sea Scouts. Future plans include programs to develop safe boaters, promote boating safety, and collaborate on water quality initiatives.

About the Boy Scouts of America

Serving more than 4.1 million youth between the ages of 7 and 20, with more than 300 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the BSA is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. The Scouting movement is composed of 1.2 million volunteers, whose dedication of time and resources has enabled the BSA to remain the nation’s leading youth-service organization. For more information on the BSA, please visit www.scouting.org.

About the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by Act of Congress in 1939. 29,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer more then two million hours each year aiding boaters and their families. The Auxiliary also supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service’s missions. For more information about the Coast Guard Auxiliary, please visit www.cgaux.org.

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