Get on top of an over-turned boat or any wreckage!

Heart failure is the usual cause of death when the core temperature cools to below 30 degrees. The body loses heat to the water about 30 times faster than in air.

Arms close to sides of the chest, legs crossed & pulled up closing the groin area.

In the huddle position, keep close together and still-to keep colder water out. The huddle helps small children survive longer!

Help Search and Rescue crews find you!

 Keep calm and make yourself visible.

Carry a WHISTLE with you!
(A Fox 40 is highly recommended).

Swimming is an option but this leads to faster heat loss and exhaustion, even a strong swimmer would not be able to swim more than one kilometre in calm water. Cramp and hypothermia develop more quickly, usually a victim becomes semiconscious and is likely to drown.

Swimming increases heat loss (increase by 35-50%) and is not recommended if you are more than one kilometer away from shore, adopt a heat conserving strategy (help or huddle) instead. Consider your circumstances carefully before deciding to swim, is there a favorable current to assist you etc..

Drown proofing and treading water also lead to rapid heat loss, avoid if possible, wear a PFD! Do not remove clothing or shoes, they provide insulation (a jacket can trap air and assists floating).

Special Note for Divers

Scuba divers who get cold may run out of air faster as shivering increases demand for air. Don't panic or you will use up even more air. If a diver assents too quickly two major problems may arise:
Air embolism and decompression sickness (bends).

Transport such a victim rapidly to a decompression chamber. If transporting by air maintain a low altitude!

Hypothermia in these cases protects against both air embolism and decompression sickness; re-warm during transportation to a decompression chamber.