Personal Watercraft Safety Course

Personal Watercraft Safety Course

Post-Rescue Collapse „ „ After rescue, someone who has been immersed in cold water is still in danger

of “post-rescue collapse.” As blood pressure drops, inhaled water can damage the lungs. Cardiac arrest or arrhythmia can develop as cold blood is released from arms and legs into the body core. „ „ It is vital to treat the victim gently and get immediate medical care. If left untreated, both heat exhaustion and cold water shock can result in death. For more information on cold water shock, consult website: http://www.dbw.ca.gov/coldwatershock First Aid Training In addition to learning about heat exhaustion and cold water shock, it is important to learn first aid. It is highly recommended that you at least receive training in basic first aid and CPR. The best place to contact for a class near you is your local American Red Cross office. Check the Internet at www.redcross.org for a CPR course near you. Alcohol and Drugs Drinking alcohol and using drugs while boating are significant causes of accidents. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment, slow response time and reduce your ability to respond to an emergency. On the water, alcohol and drugs also increase the negative impacts of sun, wind, waves, vibration, and noise.

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