AUGUSTA — The state Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife is reminding boaters that a lifejacket can only help save your life when you wear it.
While 55-degree water may not sound very cold, the sudden shock of your body plunging into cold water can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure. If you survive the initial threats of cold shock, you may start to lose control of your muscles, making swimming and staying afloat nearly impossible without the help of a lifejacket or other personal flotation device.
The department asks that boaters wear their lifejackets at all times and pay close attention to changing weather patterns. The weather can change in a matter of minutes and it’s easy to be suddenly caught in poor conditions.
For more boating safety tips, click here.
