If you fall overboard into cold water, your priorities are to avoid drowning, get out of the water as soon as you safely can, and slow heat loss.
Regain control and stay afloat
- Try not to panic; focus on controlling your breathing for the first 1–2 minutes, when cold shock makes you gasp and breathe quickly.
- Keep your head above water, and if you have a life jacket, rely on it to keep you afloat rather than thrashing or swimming hard.
- If you are not wearing a life jacket but can reach one or other flotation (cooler, buoyant cushion, capsized boat), grab it immediately.
Get out of the water quickly
- If you can reach the boat, climb back on, even if it is swamped or capsized; any position with most of your body out of the water is better than staying immersed.
- Only swim for shore if it is very close and conditions are safe; in very cold water, usable swimming ability can drop within minutes.
- If there are other floating objects (paddlecraft, debris, ice), climb onto them to lift as much of your body out of the water as possible.
Conserve heat if you can’t get out
- Minimize movement; unnecessary swimming accelerates heat loss and exhausts you.
- If alone with a life jacket, use the Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP): bring your knees up toward your chest, cross your arms tightly over your chest, and keep your head and neck out of the water.
- If others are in the water, huddle close together with arms around each other’s shoulders and sides to share warmth and reduce exposed surface area.
Make yourself easier to rescue
- Shout, wave an arm, use a whistle, light, or other signaling device as soon as your breathing is under control.
- Stay near the boat or where you fell in if help is nearby or expected; moving away can make you harder to find.
After rescue from cold water
- Once out of the water, remove wet clothing if possible, dry off, and replace with warm, dry layers or blankets; protect the head, neck, chest, and groin.
- Warm up gently (blankets, body heat, warm—not hot—drinks if conscious and able to swallow); avoid hot baths or direct intense heat on very cold skin.
- Seek medical help immediately, even if you feel better, because hypothermia and other complications can worsen after rescue.
