Coast Guard Auxiliary Reports
By Carolyn Brown Treadon
We are finally getting a taste of cooler weather, a welcome change for many! It is important to be aware of the dangers this change poses when out on the water.
Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. It is well documented that cold water can rob the body of heat 25 times faster than cold air, making time a critical element if you should fall in the water. When your body temperature drops below normal, hypothermia can begin.
Many people dress in layers when heading out this time of year, allowing them to adjust as the air temperature rises. These layers can become dangerous however if you were to fall into the water or become wet. Cold, wet clothing can cause your body to lose heat much quicker than if you were dry or able to remove the wet clothing. Water can become trapped in coveralls and boots, leading to increased difficulty remaining afloat if you are in the water and regaining warmth if out of the water.
If you choose to go out in colder water, fishing, hunting or for pleasure, be sure you know how to re-enter your boat or watercraft should you fall overboard. Practice reentry while wearing your life jacket, you don’t want the first time to be when you are in a crisis.
Keep your phone in a water-resistant case or float bag should you become submerged it can be a lifeline. Consider purchasing an emergency locating beacon and other visual distress signals. File a float plan – if you change plans, let someone know. Carry dry clothing or a blanket in the event you need them.
Most importantly, wear your life jacket – it is the single most important tool is helping survive cold water immersion.
Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident!
Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com
If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.
From FWC News
It’s manatee awareness month
November is Manatee Awareness Month, an important time for boaters to go slow and lookout below to watch for manatees as they travel to warmer water sites around the state.
Manatees depend on water generally warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive the winter, so in the fall they travel to Florida springs, power plant discharges and other warm-water sites.
While manatees are large, they can be difficult to see in the water. That is why it is important to: follow guidelines and follow all manatee protection zones; look out while boating; wear polarized glasses and always give them space. Manatee protection zones are marked by waterway signs and maps of manatee protection zones are available online at MyFWC.com/Manatee by clicking on “Data and Maps.”
During the colder months, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercraft. Boat strikes continue to be a major threat to Florida manatees. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to inform boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take appropriate enforcement actions. Boaters are reminded to abide by the regulatory signs they see on the water.
Remember, disturbing manatees at warm-water sites can cause them to swim out of protected areas and into potentially life-threatening cold water. Manatees are a protected species and it is illegal to feed, harass, disturb or harm them. Physically handling a distressed or stranded manatee can cause more harm. Instead, report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) or by dialing #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone so trained responders can assist.
The FWC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service continue to investigate and respond to an elevated number of manatee deaths along the Atlantic coast of Florida. The FWC and USFWS take manatee conservation seriously by actively implementing science-based conservation measures that are making a difference for manatees and habitat. Learn more about how officials are responding to this event by visiting MyFWC.com/Manatee and clicking on “Learn More” in the banner at the top of the page.
Resources for boaters, educators and other interested members of the public are available at MyFWC.com/Manatee. What should you do if you see a manatee? The Viewing Guidelines page provides helpful tips on respectfully viewing manatees, additional guidelines for boat and personal watercraft operators, and information on what you can do to help these amazing aquatic mammals.