Cold Water Safety Week - April 5th - 11th

Cold Water Safety Week – April 5-11

Between April 5-11, the National Weather Service (NWS) is partnering with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for Cold Water Safety Awareness Week. More information is available at https://www.weather.gov/safety/coldwater. 

• Even when the air is hot, water can be cold! Body heat can be lost 4 times faster in cold water than cold air.
• In water below 50 degrees, roughly 20 percent of those who fall into cold water die in the first minute of immersion due to cold water shock.
• Survival more than 5 minutes is unlikely without a personal flotation device or dry suit in water below 50 degrees.
• Water temperatures don’t rise above 70 degrees until July. It takes as little as 2 hours to become unconscious in water below 70 degrees.
• Even experienced swimmers can quickly lose muscle control.