Transport Canada is reminding hunters and anglers to take extra care while boating on lakes and rivers this fall. At least 40% of boating deaths involve hunters and anglers and fall’s colder waters pose special risks. Small boats are prone to swamping and capsizing on remote, cold lakes, the agency notes, so boaters should ensure they always wear a life-jacket.

Most anglers who die while boating are not wearing life-jackets. “When a person falls overboard, a life-jacket stored under the seat won’t save the person’s life,” Transport Canada notes in its news release. “Before heading out on the water, make sure life-jackets fit and are in good working order. Life-jackets come in a variety of styles, and many are designed specifically for hunting and fishing.”

They also note that boaters should be aware of the 1 - 10 - 1 principle of surviving a fall into cold water, a phrase coined by Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht:

1 – Cold shock. Falling into cold water results in a deep and sudden gasp, followed by hyperventilation. During this first minute of cold shock, it’s critical to keep your airway clear or you run the risk of drowning. Wearing a life-jacket during this phase will help keep you afloat and able to breathe.

10 – Cold incapacitation. You have about 10 minutes before you lose effective use of your fingers, arms and legs for any meaningful swimming or rescue movement. Dr. Giesbrecht recommends you concentrate on rescuing yourself initially and if that isn’t possible, find a way to keep your airway clear to await rescue. Since you won’t be able to swim well in cold water after about 10 minutes, drowning will likely occur unless you are wearing a life-jacket.

1 – Hypothermia. Even in ice water, it will typically take at least one hour before you become unconscious due to hypothermia, although people with more body fat typically can survive much longer than thinner people. “If you understand the aspects of hypothermia, techniques of how to delay it, self rescue and calling for help, your chances of survival and rescue will be dramatically increased,” Dr. Giesbrecht notes.

For more information, see his Cold Water Bootcamp.

Transport Canada offers these additional tips:

• - Make sure there are enough properly sized life-jackets or personal flotation devices for each person on board and wear them, don’t just store them on board.
• - Ensure that all safety equipment on board is in good working condition.
• - Never overload a boat.
• - Distribute the weight of passengers, gear and game evenly.
• - Keep a low centre of gravity.

For more information on boating safety, call the Boating Safety Infoline at 418-648-5331 or visit the Office of Boating Safety website.