North Carolina Waterfowl Hunters Urged to Use Caution on the Water
November 6, 2008
RALEIGH, N.C. – Waterfowl hunters are reminded by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission to use basic safety precautions when boating.
Capt. Chris Huebner, the state’s hunting and boating safety coordinator, recommends the following guidelines:
- Wear a proper personal flotation device and insist that passengers wear one also.
- Be aware that small, flat-bottom vessels are prone to capsizing and swamping.
- Store equipment properly and keep it evenly distributed in the boat.
- Don’t overload the boat, especially with passengers.
- Keep hunting dogs prone in the center of the boat.
- Never move about the boat with a loaded shotgun.
A particular danger is posed by hypothermia – the loss of body heat. Exposure to extreme cold, such as being in cold water or wearing wet clothes in cold conditions, can increase the chance of hypothermia. Capt. Huebner advises wearing proper cold weather clothing, avoiding cotton, relying on wool and synthetic materials instead.
“Dress in layers, cover head and hands, and avoid over-exertion or fatigue,” Huebner says. “In case of capsizing or swamping, stay with the boat. It will still provide some flotation and will be the initial focus of a rescue attempt.”
As with any type of hunting, it is a good idea to let someone know where you plan to hunt and an approximate time of return. Keep a cell phone in a waterproof bag that can be used without removal from the bag.
Successful completion of a Hunter Education course, offered free by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission throughout the state, is required for all first-time hunting license buyers. For course schedules, game regulations and additional hunting safety information, click here or call (919) 707-0031.
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Fish and Boat Commission Urges Boaters To Wear Life Jackets
May 21, 2008
Harrisburg, PA — The PA Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) needs your help to remind boaters that May is a dangerous month for boating in Pennsylvania because warmer days give people the illusion that the water is warm as well.
“Cold water shock was the cause of 10 of last year’s 11 boating fatalities,” PFBC Bureau Director of Boating and Access Dan Martin said. “Wearing your life jacket will keep you on the surface, giving you a better chance of rescue and survival.”
Boating is a fun, safe sport, but things can go wrong, including fatal accidents.
“Over the past 10 years in Pennsylvania, an average of 13 boaters died each year in recreational boating accidents,” Martin said. “You can reduce your chances of becoming a statistic by boating responsibly.” Here’s how:
- Take a boating course. It’s a fact that knowledgeable boaters have far fewer accidents on the water than those who do not take a safe boating course. Classroom, Internet and correspondence courses are listed on the Commission’s web site at www.fishandboat.com
. For a comprehensive overview of safe boating information and regulations, read the Pennsylvania Boating Handbook, which is also available at www.fishandboat.com. - Wear your life jacket. Eighty percent of the people who are killed in a boating accident would probably still be alive today if they had simply worn the life jacket that was already available in their boat.
- Drinking and boating do not mix. Being under the influence of alcohol is illegal while operating a boat. Just one or two drinks will affect your balance, making it much easier to capsize or fall overboard. As you continue to drink, alcohol affects your other senses and judgment. Be smart. Have a designated boat operator or refrain from drinking.
- Take action. For starters, take a boating course at www.fishandboat.com. Then, go boating with an experienced operator who can “show you the ropes” or go to our website’s calendar and find a boating course near you!
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DNR Warns Early Season Anglers About Danger of Cold-Water Shock
May 9, 2008
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds early-season anglers about the danger of cold-water shock and the importance of wearing a life jacket, especially in May and early June.
“The shock of a fall into cold water is certainly one of the biggest hazards for early season anglers,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boating safety specialist. “The gasp caused by sudden immersion in icy water can cause the victim to inhale water and drown if they aren’t wearing a life vest.”
It was once thought that good swimmers who drowned after falling overboard into cold water were succumbing to heart attacks, Smalley said. While that may have happened to some victims, researchers find that most drown due to the torso reflex rather than a cardiac episode.
“The torso reflex is the gasp that happens when your face and chest suddenly enters cold water,” Smalley said. “The gasp is automatic and nearly impossible to stop. If your face is underwater when it happens, it’s often fatal, unless of course you’re wearing a life vest.”
Boats must have one U.S. Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device (life jacket) of the proper size for each person readily accessible on board. Boats 16 feet and longer also must carry a U.S. Coast Guard approved type IV throwable seat cushion or ring buoy on board.
The DNR recommends that everyone wear life jackets. “While the emphasis tends to be on children wearing life jackets, it’s the adults who die most often in boating accidents,” Smalley said. “There have been a fair number of cases in Minnesota where an adult has drowned in a boat accident, but the child who was wearing a life jacket was just fine.”
More boating safety information and the “Minnesota Boating Guide” can be obtained free by calling the DNR Information Center at (651) 296-6157 or toll free at 1-888-MINNDNR (646-6367). Information can be downloaded from the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/boating.
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