Table of Contents
Cold Water Survival Checklist
Remember that timely informing the service about an emergency situation is a decisive factor in saving life! Emergency services take care of accidents at sea:
- Phone 115 (emergency service).
- The emergency telephone number of the State Fire and Rescue Service is 112.
What is needed to be able to survive longer in cold water, being in it for several hours:
- conditioning against the cold, physical training,
- prior storage training,
- knowledge of survival in cold water, action plan.
In case of emergency or alarm
Put on as many layers of clothing as possible, alternating between thin/tight and thick/coarse material. The outer layer should be as waterproof as possible. Fasten, fasten and/or button clothing to prevent cold water from seeping through clothing.
- Cover your head, neck and face. Put on some chunky lace-up boots
(better than stupid boots). - Put on a hydro terp over warm clothing. Drink plenty of fluids.
- It is best to drink warm tea, do not drink alcohol: it reduces the ability to survive in cold water!
- Take your seasickness medicine as soon as possible.
- Make sure all your clothing, life jacket and life belt are properly secured. In cold water, you will quickly lose the ability to move your fingers.
- Check each other out.
Abandoning a ship or watercraft
Avoid going into water as long as possible.
- Automatic life belts must be activated manually before entering the water and after leaving the interior of the ship.
- submerge the water gradually to avoid cold shock.
- Do not jump into the water - danger of cold shock! keep your elbows at your sides and place one hand over your nose and mouth while you're in the water, with the other hand firmly grasping the wrist or elbow of that hand.
- Be prepared for stress on your circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems when your body comes into contact with cold water.
- If you move as little as possible, the pain in the skin will subside after a few minutes.
While in the water
Lie in the water on your back, moving your legs as little as possible.
- Keep calm. Swim as still as possible with your feet together, elbows close to your sides and your arms in a bent position over your life jacket.
- Keep as much of your body above water as possible.
- Hugging other people will help keep your body warm.
- Keep a positive attitude. You will be lucky and you will be saved! You can survive in cold water for a long time, even in deep hypothermia or even unconsciousness. Rescuers are looking for you! This positive attitude will help your body maintain its core temperature.
- Do not drink or inhale seawater.
Learn more about surviving in water at risk of hypothermia
- Diving in autumn and winter in Latvian waters
- Abandoning the watercraft and ship in an emergency
- Human survival in the sea, cold water in autumn and winter
- Assisting water rescuers with hypothermia
More about tempering, ice and cold baths
Cold water shower, hardening benefits
The benefits of a cold bath are why you need to do it
Motivational technique for a cold winter swim
Where to apply for diving training in Latvia?
🤿😀 If you are looking for diving advice or advice on the sport of scuba diving with or without balloons, call a PADI Diver Instructor (PADI diving instructor and lecturer Valters Preimanis) t. 220-77-202 (WhatsApp 220-77-202).
