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SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT HYPOTHERMIA PROTECTION:
1. Always wear your PFD. Even if you become incapacitated due to
hypothermia, the PFD will keep you afloat and greatly improve
your chances of rescue.
2. Do not attempt to swim unless it is to reach a nearby craft, fellow
survivor, or a floating object on which you can lean or climb.
Swimming increases the rate of body heat loss. In cold water,
drown-proofing methods that require putting your head in the
water are not recommended. Keep your head out of the water.
This will greatly lessen heat loss and increase your survival time.
3. Use the standard Heat Escape Lessening Position (HELP) when
wearing a PFD, drawing the legs up to a seated position, because
doing so will help you conserve body heat (Fig. 33).
4. Keep a positive attitude about your survival and rescue. This
will improve your chances of extending your survival time until
rescued. Your will-to-live does make a difference!
5. If there is more than one person in the water, huddling is
recommended while waiting to be rescued. This action tends to
reduce the rate of heat loss and thus increase the survival time.
FIGURE 33
HELP