We’re coming off a warm, mostly dry holiday weekend that featured highs in the 70s and 80s. This type of weather naturally brings out boaters, kayakers, canoers and paddle boarders. I saw probably more than 100 boats this weekend on Lake George and Saratoga Lake.
People heading out on area lakes and rivers need to be mindful of the dangers posed by cold water temperatures. While air temperatures have been warm for several weeks now, it’s easy to forget that lakes and rivers are much slower to warm. I’m sure a few stand-up paddle boarders learned that the hard way this weekend.
Cold water can quickly cause hypothermia to anyone immersed in the water. Cold water conducts body heat away up to 26 times faster than air of the same temperature. This can cause the extremities to become numb quickly and weaken the ability of muscles to work effectively. Tragically, several people have lost their lives this time of the year in New York lakes and rivers due to drowning in cold water temperatures.
The National Weather Service recommends the following precautions to keep yourself safe and maximize your enjoyment on area waterways:
- Consider postponing small craft boating activities until water temperatures become warmer.
- If you do choose to boat, kayak, canoe, or paddle board this time of year, wear a dry suit appropriate for the water temperatures above.
- Wear all recommended protective gear to guard against the cold water in the event of an accident or capsizing.
- ALWAYS wear your life jacket!