First fatalities of the boating season...

[Skip]

A tragic accident in New Hampshire claims the life of a father and son. Story can be read in today's on-line Union Leader. (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NH_DOUBLE_DROWNING_NHOL-?SITE=NHMAL&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

[Weirs guy]

Tilton FD had to go fish someone out of Winnisquam at 7 yesterday morning too, looks like it was a bad day to be out.

My condolences to the family of those who were lost.

[mcdude]

See VIDEO HERE (http://www.wmur.com/news/13263800/detail.html) of drownings at MANNING LAKE (http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3nm2c/crystallakeandmanninglake/id9.html).

http://mysite.verizon.net/vze3nm2c/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/img_6399.jpg

[woodswalk]

Hey you guys!- known you all for a while- never posted...damn, sometimes these things hit too close to home for comfort. Respect water in both of its states. My heart goes out to these folk.
Sorry for a depressing intro, but without people like you, others will not take heed to the lessons we may or may not have learned the hard way.
I'll be back in a better frame of mind soon- looking forward to getting to yap with you all, and hey!, it is getting warmer!, isn't it?!???!?????

[secondcurve]

Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the impact of hypothermia. Does anyone now roughly how warm the water has to be to avoid this danger?

[woodswalk]

Can only go by my past experience on this one...... almost bought it myself on an eighty degree day,- (most deceiving it can be), rule of thumb- feel the water! If it feels cold, stay in close and know your sprinting distance because once the cramps set in, your paddles, (arms and legs) don't work worth a darn even if you're PFD'D.

[gtxrider]

It seems to avoid hypothermia the water needs to quite warm.

http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/8_5.php

[JasonG]

Even if the water is 75 Deg F you can get hypo. it may take several hours, but it will happen. I believe it is needed to be 85-90 or above. Caribbean waters, basically.

If you think about it, your body core is 98.6. Anything less than that is going to pull the heat from your body and cold water does that much faster than air. This the reason a 75 degree day wont freeze you, but being up to your next in a 75 degree water body will, eventually.

Jason

[woodswalk]

example-
float on your back in the water when the water temp is 78 degrees- if you're motionless, your body can't keep the heat, period! and as you said, it's only a matter of time until your core drops. swim like crazy, if not cramped, you only buy time.

[woodswalk]

headin out now- if you hear a thrashin in the woods- probably me- i'm coming up over from the back side- going to build a nice fire for lunch up top-(just kidding) - can't wait for those berries to come round!!!!!

[mcdude]

Woodswalk:
Look out for them dang blackflies if you're walking in the woods! ....and be careful near the water. Last Friday when this tragic drowning took place the water was 47 degrees. Here's a link to the
CONCORD MONITOR ARTICLE (http://www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070506/REPOSITORY/705060428)