A new video (below) produced by the National Water Safety Congress could save your life. It is called Cold Water Boot Camp USA. It takes eight hardy volunteers from across America and puts them into cold water to learn what really happens.
One of the eight is Tennessee Wildlife Officer Chuck Yoest from Cannon County. Ed Carter, TWRA's Chief of Boating, said, "Chuck turned out to be one of the 'stars' of the experiment and I'm extremely proud of his efforts."
The Cold Water Boot Camp actually dispels the belief that hypothermia kills people who fall victim to cold water immersion.
Carter said, "It turns out the time frame (for succumbing to hypothermia) is actually about one hour. However, that is absolutely dependent on wearing some type of life jacket and the ability to control your breathing during the first couple of minutes of entering the water. The gasp reflex causes hyperventilation. Without the life jacket a person loses the ability to swim or even move and, of course, drowns within a very few minutes."
Cold Water Boot Camp USA was awarded NASBLA's Seal of Safe Boating Practices. Copies of the DVD are available for free through the NASBLA store. However here is an edited 10-minute version of the video. Watch it below.
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HERE to watch the video