How To Survive A Water Rescue And Hypothermia

    By now you’ve probably heard the story about the NFL player found alive off the coast of Florida and his three friends who are still missing.  Former University of South Florida football player Nick Schuyler was clinging to an overturned boat that belongs to Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper. Cooper along with NFL free-agent defensive lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida player William Bleakley got separated from the boat and are still missing when a storm hit.
    Right now they have been in the water more than 48 hours.  This story is terrible and my heart goes out to their loved ones and their fans.  You can’t help thinking about their chances of survival.  According to reports, Schuyler told rescuers they were all wearing life jackets.  A good sign. Plus these men are strong and in excellent shape.  We tell ourselves they’ll make it if anyone can. 
    I started doing some research on hypothermia since that is what the experts fear most for these men and found some information we all can learn from.  The water off the coast of Florida right now is about 62 degrees. According to http://www.boatsafe.com, when the water is between 60 and 70 degrees exhaustion and unconsciousness can set in two to seven hours after you have been in the water.  The expected survival time is two to forty hours. 
    So what happens in that time?  When you hit the cold water your body temperature begins to drop. Surprisingly, in water your body will cool twenty-five times faster than it will when hit by cold air.  Hypothermia sets in when your body temperature gets down to 35 degrees.
    Here’s what you need to know. Small people, like children, cool faster than larger people.  At http://www.hypothermia.org they say don’t fight the water.  If you can swim to safety, do so.  However, if there is nothing to grab onto and no land in sight make sure you put on a life jacket and just float.  Moving actually makes you lose body heat a lot faster in water.  The experts say if you are in a group huddle.  If not, then cross your arms around your body, cross your legs and pull them as close to your body as possible.
    We hear about water rescues in our area every year.  I think this is good information to know and hopefully you’ll never have to use it.