Northeast Waters Still Cold, Coast Guard Warns

Recreational boating deaths involving paddlecraft more than doubled in Northeast waters during 2016, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

  • Mar 31, 2017

Waters in the northeastern region of the United States are still cold this time of year, the U.S. Coast Guard notes in an article by Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew Barresi about a recent rescue of a kayak who was suffering severe hypothermia. Recreational boating deaths involving paddlecraft more than doubled in Northeast waters during 2016, according to his article, which explains that Northeast waters "remain cold well into spring. It is tempting to shake off winter by hitting the water on the first warm days of the new season, but the reality is that the water temperature hasn't caught up to the air temperature, and this equates to an often-overlooked danger."

The rescue involved a man whose kayak had capsized. Someone on shore called 911, and both a 47-foot USCG Motor Lifeboat and a New Hampshire Marine Patrol boat responded.

It was a close call for the kayaker.

"Whether you're surfing, kayaking, or paddle boarding, you want to have some kind of protective clothing on, whether it's a wetsuit or dry suit," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Perry Derrenbacher, a crewmember at Station Portsmouth Harbor who participated in the rescue. "As soon as you hit the water, all the blood is going to rush from your extremities to your core, and you'll lose your ability to swim."

Product Showcase

  • Matrix's OmniPro Vision AI Collision Avoidance System

    OmniPro Vision AI is a state-of-the-art collision avoidance system that features NIOSH award-winning Visual Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This highly accurate, powerful system identifies and alerts on pedestrians, vehicles and specified objects, ensuring safer facilities, mining operations and industrial sites. With its web-based cloud application, OmniPro Vision AI also logs and analyzes a wide range of data related to zone breach notifications. Operating without needing personal wearable devices or tags, OmniPro has visual and audible zone breach alerts for both operators and pedestrians. 3

  • HAZ LO HEADLAMPS

    With alkaline or rechargeable options, these safety rated, Class 1, Div. 1 Headlamps provide long runtime with both spot and flood options in the same light. Work safely and avoid trip hazards with flexible hands-free lighting from Streamlight. 3

  • Safety Knives

    The Safety Knife Company has developed a quality range of safety knives for all industries. Designed so that fingers cannot get to the blades, these knives will safely cut through cardboard, tape, strapping, shrink or plastic wrap or a variety of other packing materials. Because these knives have no exposed blades and only cut cardboard deep, they will not only protect employees against lacerations but they will also save product. The Metal Detectable versions have revolutionary metal detectable polypropylene knife bodies specifically for the food and pharmaceutical industries. This material can be detected and rejected by typical detection machines and is X-ray visible. 3

Featured

Most   Popular