The waters of British Columbia are cold year round. If you fall overboard, remember the 1-10-1 principle!YOU HAVE:
1 minute to get your breathing under control
10 minutes of meaningful use of your arms and legs to stay afloat
1 hour before you become unconcious due to hypothermia
Prevent cold water shock: Don't just carry a lifejacket on board - wear it! Without a lifejacket on, you likely won't survive the first few minutes of cold water immersion.
- Check the weather before departing
- Don't overload your boat
- Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return
Go to http://www.coldwaterbootcamp.com/ to watch video clips showing the crippling effects of cold water immersion.
