Visit these websites for more water safety and hypothermia prevention in- formation. What is East Pierce Fire & Rescue Hypothermia? www.eastpiercefire.org Hypothermia means “low temperature”. Washington State Drowning When your body is exposed to cold tem- Prevention Coalition Hypothermia www.drowning-prevention.org perature, it tries to protect itself by keeping a normal body temperature of 98.6°F. It Children’s Hospital & tries to reduce heat loss by shivering and Regional Medical Center In Our Lakes moving blood from your arms and legs to www.seattlechildrens.org the core of your body—head, chest and and Rivers abdomen. Hypothermia Prevention, Recognition and Treatment www.hypothermia.org Stages of Hypothermia Boat Washington Mild Hypothermia www.boatwashington.org (Core body temperature of 98.6°— 93.2°F) Symptoms: Shivering; altered judg- ment; numbness; clumsiness; loss of Boat U.S. Foundation dexterity; pain from cold; and fast www.boatus.com breathing. Boat Safe Moderate Hypothermia www.boatsafe.com (Core body temperature of 93.2°—86°F) Symptoms: Semiconscious to uncon- scious; shivering reduced or absent; lips are blue; slurred speech; rigid n in muscles; appears drunk; slow Eve breathing; and feeling of warmth can occur. mer! Headquarters Station Sum Severe Hypothermia 18421 Old Buckley Hwy (Core body temperature below 86°F) Bonney Lake, WA 98391 Symptoms: Coma; heart stops; and clinical death. Phone: 253-863-1800 Fax: 253-863-1848 Email:
[email protected] Know the water. Know your limits. Wear a life vest. By choosing to swim in colder water you Waters in Western Common Misconceptions Washington reduce your survival time.