ODNR urges caution on water as temps turn frigid

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Buckeye State has quite a few bodies of water and plenty of people hardy enough to brave the cold air to spend time on Ohio’s lakes and ponds.

However, as cold water temperatures can be particularly dangerous, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Parks and Watercraft is reminding Ohioans to be careful.

“Ohio’s lakes and rivers are beautiful in every season, but cold water brings serious risks,” ODNR Director Mary Mertz said in a press release. “Wearing a life jacket and understanding the dangers of cold water can make all the difference in keeping your adventures safe and enjoyable.”

 

(ODNR)

Being submerged in cold water can cool your body at a rapid pace, increasing your risk of hypothermia. The ODNR said that almost 90% of boating fatalities are from drowning, “and almost half of those involve immersion in cold water.”

Cleveland Clinic offers the following tips for treating hypothermia, in addition to calling for help:

• “Move the person to a warm, dry location
• Remove wet clothing and replace with dry clothing
• Cover them up with a jacket, hat and blanket
• Apply external heat to their skin, such as with a heat lamp or hot pack”

If it is a more severe case of hypothermia, they said a healthcare provider may be required to:

• “Insert an IV into your vein and pump warm fluids into your body
• Give you warm oxygen through a mask or breathing tube
• Use a machine that warms your blood and pumps it back into your body”

The ODNR recommends wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket that fits properly and that you dress for the weather.

You can view more of the ODNR’s winter safety tips here.