Safe at Sea: Seven deadly swims
This past week, as I was readying for the 4th of July weekend’s festivities, I was sent an email with an attached article entitled, “The Seven Deadly Swims.” With a title like that, I had to read it, and I found it so worthwhile that I am going to lean on it significantly for this Safe at Sea column. Due credit to R.J. Garren who wrote the piece for the website PleaseWearIt.com — “it,” of course, is your life jacket.
Ironically, the majority of drownings involve people who are able to swim. However, that skill simply wasn’t sufficient when circumstances overtake them. The result? The Seven Deadly Swims.
– Indeed, most people who drown know how to swim, and many are, in fact, strong swimmers. So what’s the issue? Adults — and teens — overestimate their swimming ability. And that, according to Garren, is the leading cause of drowning.
Then take that capable swimmer into waters not designated for swimming, such as our open waters of the Gulf of Mexico and our many bays, and they are in unknown waters. Knowing the water’s depth and bottom structure is important for safe swimming. And, Sanibel-Captiva residents remember: Unless you swim on a regular basis, your swimming ability tends to decrease with age.
– Swimming to retrieve a boat — picture the vessel improperly tied to the dock or sliding away at the boat ramp — or even a hat blown overboard is an all too common cause of drowning.
– A third deadly swim is falling from a boat or dock. The shock of unexpectedly falling into water can add to a person’s inability to respond logically. If the water is cold, that may trigger a gasp reflex that can result in drowning. According to Garren and statistics he took from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, eight of 10 overboard incidents happen on vessels less than 21 feet long. However, we all know of incidents where the recreational boater had a M.O.B. on a much larger craft.
Here’s an interesting statistic: It takes a strong swimmer an average of 10 minutes to put on a life jacket in the water. (Just how many of us consider ourselves “strong swimmers?) Those are a precious 10 minutes. With that life jacket on, you are much easier to pull up and onto the boat.
– Jumping or diving into open waters when you can’t see what is below the surface.
Just one story: I was a high school teacher and on the Friday before graduation, a group of fun-loving rowdy boys went to the lake. One kid went running off the dock and dove into shallow water. He died a few years later, a quadriplegic.
– Carbon monoxide (CO) poising has killed people both on board and in the boat’s surrounding water. CO from a gas-powered engine can linger near the water’s surface. Inhaling this colorless odorless gas can cause one to silently pass out and drown.
– It is commonly known that alcohol is the leading contributing factor for boating accidents and drownings. What most people do not know is something called “boater’s hypnosis,” which Garren defines as an effect caused by the sun, glare, wind, noise and vibration of a boat. It slows one’s reaction time just as being intoxicated does. Not only the captain, but all passengers and crew, need to remain alert and prepared for the unexpected.
– The final “deadly swim” surprised me. “Hypnotic blackout” can occur from prolonged breath holding. In short, this results in a shortage of oxygen to the brain. Free divers are fully aware of the potential for hypnotic blackout. However, a typical snorkeler or swimmer most likely is not. Buddy-swimming is a must!
PleaseWearIt.com has a tag line: “Life Jackets Worn … Nobody Mourns.” Remember this, please.
Pat Schmidt is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more about the chapter and its courses, visit www.sancapboating.club or contact education@sanibelcaptivasps.org or 612-987-2125.