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Cold Water Emergency Prevention and Survival (Guest Article)
by James Noel

I apologize that this offering was hastily put together and lacks the polish I would like for it to have. But with the recent tragic loss of one of our own, I felt that expediency outweighed the need for literary quality.

When it comes to surviving in cold water conditions, I'm no expert, but I have learned a few things the hard way. I would be remiss if I didn't share what little I do know with those of you who may not have learned as much yet. I am out on the river in a canoe year 'round and seem to hold the local record for falling out of my boat during dangerously low temperatures. I've been very lucky, but I've also been as prepared as I know how to be. If you're going out on the water in cold weather, you must do many things differently than you do in the warmer months. For me, preparation for cold water fishing is an on-going endeavor. Here is what I do, and some suggestions for others.

First, read about hypothermia, what it is, how it happens, and what to do (and not do) about it. You may be surprised by some of what you learn. You can actually kill yourself or someone you're trying to help by using common sense techniques. For example, covering a person suffering from the advanced stages of hypothermia in blankets or coats can be the equivalent of wrapping frozen fish in heavy newspaper. You may actually make it impossible for them to get warm after their core body temperature has fallen dangerously low. There are many web sites and books on the subject. Many of the available sources give conflicting advice. I suggest that you read as much as you can and do some "advice-averaging". Here is a link to get you started - http://www.adventuresports.com/asap/ski/skihypo.htm.

Second, acquire and carry the gear that you must have to survive a dunking in cold water. A quality PFD is a must. Wear it at ALL times! Many of the posts memorializing River Rat contain solemn vows of wearing PFD's. Frankly, it is those vows that worried me and compelled me to write this. As absolutely necessary as it is, a PFD alone will NOT save your life if you wind up in a cold river. It is essential for helping you get to shore, but remember, many people die from exposure (hypothermia) every year on dry land in dry clothes, miles from the nearest water. Each year there are even tragic stories of elderly people who die in their HOMES from hypothermia. IF you make it to shore, you must still be fully equipped to survive the bitter cold on land at least overnight.

Basic survival equipment is essential anytime you go afield or astream in cold weather. First, equip the boat. If you are fortunate enough to get your craft to the shore with you, which is often possible with a small craft such as a canoe, using the boat's carrying capacity for your survival gear can turn a potential tragedy into a quite comfortable stay on land. Pack the boat as if you are going winter camping. Always wear your second-warmest clothes. Put your warmest stuff in a quality dry bag and lash it securely in the boat. You will really appreciate having your best dry clothing to change into. Stuff the dry bag as full as possible with fleece or down under-layers and WINDPROOF outer-layers. Be sure to include your warmest hat, socks, and shoes. To minimize heat loss when changing out of your wet duds, pack in the “last in - first out” fashion. Have the hat on top, followed by the shirt, pants, socks, and shoes, in that order. Always carry more than you think you will need.

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"If you're going out on the water in cold weather, you must do many things differently than you do in the warmer months. For me, preparation for cold water fishing is an on-going endeavor."

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In the dry bag, also place a bunch of fire starters and lighters. I never scrimp on these. It's not possible to have too many. Also, make sure that they work. There are many products on the market today claiming to be “survival” gear. I have found that many of the fire starters that claim to work even when wet – do. But even a slight breeze blows them out even when dry. The best I've used can be found at military surplus stores. They are not marketed as fire starters, but as cooking fuel. They are referred to as Trioxane. They are packaged in small cardboard boxes. Inside each box are three waterproof olive drab foil wrappers. Each contains what looks like a miniature cake of soap. They ignite instantly with just a touch from a lighter and burn extremely hot for about ten minutes. Oh yeah, if you don't already know how, learn the right way to build a fire. These things won't start a log to blazing. Learn what burns and what doesn't and how to use it. (Everyone should own and study at least one current book about outdoor survival.) Also, I always pack a Thermos with hot liquids. I don't mean the half-gallon of coffee I intend to drink even if everything goes according to plan. Pack an additional Thermos of something hot with lots of calories – chicken soup, chili beans, hot chocolate, etc. If you get wet and cold, your body is going to need this extra nourishment to stay alive.

Since there's a lot more room in my canoe, just like camping, I throw in a small tent and my sleeping bag (in a large dry bag or two reversed goosenecked garbage bags) – lash them in. If not protected from the wind and cold, you WILL die. Sound like a lot of hassle? Not really. Most of us already have this stuff. Just add it to your checklist in cold weather. Tote it out of the house in the morning, then back in when you return, just like all the other stuff you're already carrying. I duplicate a lot of the items listed. You really don't know what you'll have left if the boat capsizes. I have lighters and fire starters in every dry bag and tackle carrier onboard. If I can grab just one container, I am way ahead in the survival game.

OK, what if you get separated from your boat, like Rat did? This is my greatest fear, but one that I'm always at least somewhat prepared for. In this condition, IF you make it to shore, all you're going to have with you is what is on your body. I wear a dry suit in cold water/air conditions. If you are unfamiliar with these, first let me say that it is not a wetsuit. It is a totally waterproof one-piece fabric garment. It has very tight latex gaskets at the wrists, ankles, and neck. It is designed so that no water can get in. These suits are available in various fabrics at prices ranging from about $200 to $700. The one I wear is the top of the line 100% Gortex model so it also does not build up any moisture (cold) on the inside. The zippers are the weakest portions of the suit and they are guaranteed totally waterproof down to 30-feet. This is very cheap life insurance. It WILL keep you alive. Kokatat is the premier manufacturer of these suits and they are available from most serious river gear suppliers, like Northwest River Supply. If you get one, which you definitely should if you float-fish in cold water, I recommend that you send it back to the factory to have the ankle gaskets replaced with full latex feet and have a “relief” zipper added. These features are not standard.

Under the dry suit, I wear a one-piece Kokatat fleece coverall and fleece socks as a minimum. On extremely cold days, I add a second pair of fleece socks and one or more additional layers of fleece body wear. The military surplus polypropylene underwear is an excellent layering choice for added warmth under the dry suit. Now, I'll be the first to admit this ain't the most comfortable or stylish get-up you ever wore. In fact, the ladies who work the night shift at the local Sheetz convenience store always call me "Buzz Light Year" when I come in for my biscuits and coffee on my way to the river.

A dry suit like the one worn by the author could save your life in the event you end up in the frigid water.

To be prepared to survive a river dunking this way, you gotta have pockets. My PFD has a couple. I stuff them with the following: Trioxane fuel/fire starters, folded aluminum foil (to fashion a pot and drinking cup), disposable emergency space blanket, dry cocoa powder mix stripped from MREs, Lipton's Cup-A-Soup mix, a knife, mini mag flashlight, and loud whistle. I also keep a serious lighter on a breakaway lanyard around my neck. I tested several lesser lighters before I settled on Cabela's Alaska Guide model as a lifesaver. When it arrived, I fueled it up and put in a sink full of water for three hours. I then wiped it off, flipped open the O-ring sealed top, and it burst forth an extremely hot torch-like flame. I test it before every trip and never use it for routine purposes. If I'm going to float an extremely rough stretch of river, I also wear a fanny pack with additional items including a disposable poncho, miniature first aid kit, and another lighter and more fire starters, and a cell phone in a waterproof container.

One of the most obvious and enjoyable differences about winter river running is that there are no other people around. Unfortunately, that means no help. To complicate matters further for me personally, I have a bad habit of stopping off on the way home to drop in on friends, hang around the wood stove and listen to them tell me how crazy I am to be out on the river this time of year. Consequently, it would be a very long time before my wife got concerned enough to think that something may have gone wrong. At the very least, I always file a flight plan with my wife before leaving. I tell her where I will put in and take out. At least this will narrow the search if one becomes necessary. A simple pre-arranged time for a phone call AFTER YOU ARE OFF THE RIVER would be an invaluable addition to this plan.

My final point is the one most overlooked by many the best-equipped winter river runners - PRACTICE. Once you have assembled the necessary gear and acquired the requisite skills, you have only reached the starting point. You much actually perform drills to assure that your preparations are practical and that you can actually perform in the field. Learn from your drills and integrate the lessons learned into your survival plan.

As I stated at the beginning, I'm no expert. But these easily adopted winter practices do give me a significant edge in the stay-alive battle. If you are not compelled to be out on the river during the hazardous winter months, I pray that nothing I've written here will entice you to do so. I'm going to be out there. I can't help it; it's always been that way. I grew to love river smallie fishing because I love the river. I'd rather be out on an icy river on a snowy day, than safe and snug in my own warm bed. I know that some of you are the same way (you know who you are). If you're going to be out there, afloat or afoot, please prepare, equip, and practice. Much more can and should be shared on this subject. I implore anyone who has better or additional suggestions on this topic to start and contribute to a thread on the discussion board for the benefit of all of us. Lord willing, the next time a headline reads, “Angler Missing”, it will be followed the next day by one that reads, “Angler Found Safe Following Near Tragedy.” God bless you all. Be careful out there.