Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

[Moody Blue]

Past weekend, a coworker "Frank" had taken his new-to-him boat out for a solo cruise. Motor overheated and stalled. Another boater offered to tow him into the marina and he made his way to the bow to tie off the tow line. Once underway, he decided to return to the cuddy cabin because it was raining, but slipped and fell into the water. Now, this time of year the water is only about 8C or about 45F. The driver of the towing vessel didn't notice that "Frank" had fallen into the water and the boat continued to pull away. Because of the shock of the cold water, "Frank" was unable to yell for help but very luckily for him, a few hundred feet later the driver glanced back and noticed him in the water. Another 5 or 10 minutes in the cold water and the story would have ended much more tragically. Only harm done was a lost cell phone and pair of eyeglasses.

 

[rbh]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

That was a close call!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

In my avatar pic I'm wearing a suit called Arctic Armor. It has cinch straps at the ankles, waist, wrists, and hood to minimize wter entering the suit. It also has enough buoyancy to float 3 adults. It is very light, yet very warm. I always wear it when boating on water less than 55*F... just in case I fall my dumb butt overboard. I call it very cheap life insurance!

The price of the lost cell phone and glasses would more than pay for an Arctic Armor suit.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Very lucky around here in the ocean your given about 20 minets and thats on a hot summer day.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

After watching this video a couple years ago, it changed my attitude about boating/fishing around cold water completely!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1xohI3B4Uc

I do not boat or fish over cold water without a PFD anymore, nor do I let my friends/passengers!!!

The boat goes back to the launch dock just as easily as it came of the trailer in the first place eh!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

In cold water, unless you?re wearing a survival suit, a PFD only makes it easier to find your body.

 

[1fast6]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

wow, that's terrable. glad he his ok.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

In cold water, unless you?re wearing a survival suit, a PFD only makes it easier to find your body.

So not true.

The PFD keeps your head above water after your muscles stop responding due to the cold. Take a look at the video jigngrub linked to above. Very informative.

Interesting when he told us about his misadventure, we all mentioned how cold the water must have been. He said that initially it didn't register with him how cold the water was. His biggest concern was watching the boats pulling away from him.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Not wearing a PFD is not and option where I live, our lake waters even in the heat of the summer rarely get above 40 degrees, which means a very short time in the water will result in a very quick onset of hypothermia! and death quickly follows. I live close to Glacier National Park and the number one killer in the park is water, either drowning or hypothermia. It is not worth the risk to not wear that PFD. I also highly recommend the survival gear that was mentioned, we are seeing more and more of it around this area, and it is saving lives every year..

Glad he was able to get out quick enough to suffer no lasting effects.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Glad your co-worker is okay,,,,,at least he gave Mr. Limpitt an extra pair of glasses...

 

[emoney]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Wow, that video was really eye opening. You know I think we are all a little too flippant at times when it comes to wearing PFDs, at least I know I am. Even though we don't have the issue with cold, we do see seas decide to get rough on a moments notice and that life jacket wrapped around the seat behind me doesn't do a lot of good. Good info to keep in mind and I'm really glad the tow drive decided to look back for your friends sake. Happy and safe boating everybody!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

So not true.

The PFD keeps your head above water after your muscles stop responding due to the cold. Take a look at the video jigngrub linked to above. Very informative.

Don?t kid yourself. A PFD will keep you from drowning but it will not prevent death by hyperthermia or cardiac arrest brought on by cold shock. The only thing that will assure survival in a coldwater situation is a survival suit.

Case in point. We had 3 deaths during this Spring?s Trophy season. Two out of the three where wearing life preservers. All three died of cardiac arrest.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Don?t kid yourself. A PFD will keep you from drowning but it will not prevent death by hyperthermia or cardiac arrest brought on by cold shock. The only thing that will assure survival in a coldwater situation is a survival suit.

Case in point. We had 3 deaths during this Spring?s Trophy season. Two out of the three where wearing life preservers. All three died of cardiac arrest.

You have a lot more time to be rescued with a PFD on, an hour or 2 as opposed to about 15-20 minutes without one.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

You have a lot more time to be rescued with a PFD on, an hour or 2 as opposed to about 15-20 minutes without one.

Here in most places in Montana, a PFD will not give you anylonger to be recused, death occurs very quickly in the cold water temps we have up north..the water coming out of my well right now is only 33.7 degrees and the warmest lake in my area is right at 34 degrees, the PFD will keep you above water, but it will give you no extra time, in cold water situations.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Here in most places in Montana, a PFD will not give you anylonger to be recused, death occurs very quickly in the cold water temps we have up north..the water coming out of my well right now is only 33.7 degrees and the warmest lake in my area is right at 34 degrees, the PFD will keep you above water, but it will give you no extra time, in cold water situations.

Here's a couple more videos by the same guy that did the first one I posted, very informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnKtuUTt8k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAwzPgRYOI&feature=related

You have longer than most people think when falling into frigid water... if you know what to do.

... and here's a video about the suit I wear while fishing and boating over cold water.

http://www.idigear.com/video-fox.php

What usually kills people so quickly when falling into cold water is the involuntary action of gasping for breath on the initial plunge, if your head is below water when this happens your lungs fill with water and you drown... this is the most important reason to wear some type of floatation when over frigid water.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Here's a couple more videos by the same guy that did the first one I posted, very informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnKtuUTt8k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAwzPgRYOI&feature=related

You have longer than most people think when falling into frigid water... if you know what to do.

... and here's a video about the suit I wear while fishing and boating over cold water.

http://www.idigear.com/video-fox.php

What usually kills people so quickly when falling into cold water is the involuntary action of gasping for breath on the initial plunge, if your head is below water when this happens your lungs fill with water and you drown... this is the most important reason to wear some type of floatation when over frigid water.

The key words are "If you know what to do" I am real familier with what to do, I went through a bunch of cold water training as well as being a certified cold water dive instructor. But again, cold water is nothing to mess with, it will kill you "IF" you don't know what to do, and unfortunately, most don't!

 

[CC245]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Hey MT, Where do you boat? Are you on Flathead? I have a place up in Whitefish on Big Mt.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Hey MT, Where do you boat? Are you on Flathead? I have a place up in Whitefish on Big Mt.

CC,

I live just outside of Kalispell, most of my boating is west of here on the Thompson Chain of lakes, I have been out on the Flathead, but not one of my favorites, I have done the Swan/Seeley area as well, nice area to fish and have fun.

 

[rbh]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Here's a couple more videos by the same guy that did the first one I posted, very informative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysnKtuUTt8k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PAwzPgRYOI&feature=related

You have longer than most people think when falling into frigid water... if you know what to do.

... and here's a video about the suit I wear while fishing and boating over cold water.

http://www.idigear.com/video-fox.php

What usually kills people so quickly when falling into cold water is the involuntary action of gasping for breath on the initial plunge, if your head is below water when this happens your lungs fill with water and you drown... this is the most important reason to wear some type of floatation when over frigid water.

Yup, ole professer popcicle, very neat guy to watch.

I watched a documentory that he and some Canadian and American military folk put together on how much food/calories were required to do a 100 mile route march
at -40 +- with wind chill +-

Lets just say bacon fat was the new butter and the guys still lost weight.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Co-worker nearly drowned. Wasn't wearing a PFD

Yes, cold water can kill you very quickly, but falling into it w/o a PFD will likely kill you quicker. Buy yourself some time. There is no downside to it.