HELP stands for "Heat Escape Lessening Position." It is a survival position to assume when immersed in cold water to reduce heat loss from the body and slow the onset of hypothermia. The position involves pulling your knees up to your chest and wrapping your arms around them or pressing your arms against your sides while wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). This helps protect the body’s major areas of heat loss, such as the groin, head/neck, and rib cage/armpits, thereby conserving body heat and increasing survival time in cold water. If in a group, people can huddle together in this position to further conserve heat and improve rescue visibility.
