Officers with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department are reminding boaters to “boat smart” after a man survived a boating incident which sent him to the hospital for hypothermia.
Green River Game Warden Dustin Kirsch said he was notified by an angler who rescued another angler after the man fell into Fontenelle Reservoir on April 23. Kirsch is thankful the man is okay, but concerned that the man was operating his boat in frigid cold water temperatures and the incident was not reported to authorities.
“The fisherman is lucky to be alive,” Kirsch said. “The water temperatures in local reservoirs are extremely cold and if there had not been another person in the vicinity to rescue the man he would surely be dead from hypothermia-induced drowning. The man was not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) and he was alone in the boat.
“Not wearing your PFD is a lot like not wearing your seatbelt,” said Green River Regional Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco. “They are both safety equipment, but they don’t help you unless you are wearing them. In an emergency situation, like someone falling into the extremely cold water, there is so little time to save that person. It was much worse in this case; he was alone and not wearing a PFD.”
“Now is the time to make sure all of your safety equipment and your watercraft are in good working condition, not when you are in a life-threatening situation in the freezing cold water,” Kirsch said.
Wyoming law requires that a Coast Guard approved life jacket, that is in good condition and fits, must be available and accessible for each person on board. In addition, one Coast Guard approved throwable flotation device is required for all boats 16 feet in length and longer. Wyoming law also requires lighting for watercraft underway on waters between sunset and sunrise and fire extinguishers on most types of watercraft. Hypothermia is a force to be reckoned with-it can happen fast and requires quick treatment. So, bring someone along with you.”
Boaters can pick up a copy of the 2010-2011 Wyoming Watercraft Regulations at any regional office of the Game and Fish and most license vendors.
Green River Game Warden Dustin Kirsch said he was notified by an angler who rescued another angler after the man fell into Fontenelle Reservoir on April 23. Kirsch is thankful the man is okay, but concerned that the man was operating his boat in frigid cold water temperatures and the incident was not reported to authorities.
“The fisherman is lucky to be alive,” Kirsch said. “The water temperatures in local reservoirs are extremely cold and if there had not been another person in the vicinity to rescue the man he would surely be dead from hypothermia-induced drowning. The man was not wearing a personal floatation device (PFD) and he was alone in the boat.
“Not wearing your PFD is a lot like not wearing your seatbelt,” said Green River Regional Wildlife Supervisor Steve DeCecco. “They are both safety equipment, but they don’t help you unless you are wearing them. In an emergency situation, like someone falling into the extremely cold water, there is so little time to save that person. It was much worse in this case; he was alone and not wearing a PFD.”
“Now is the time to make sure all of your safety equipment and your watercraft are in good working condition, not when you are in a life-threatening situation in the freezing cold water,” Kirsch said.
Wyoming law requires that a Coast Guard approved life jacket, that is in good condition and fits, must be available and accessible for each person on board. In addition, one Coast Guard approved throwable flotation device is required for all boats 16 feet in length and longer. Wyoming law also requires lighting for watercraft underway on waters between sunset and sunrise and fire extinguishers on most types of watercraft. Hypothermia is a force to be reckoned with-it can happen fast and requires quick treatment. So, bring someone along with you.”
Boaters can pick up a copy of the 2010-2011 Wyoming Watercraft Regulations at any regional office of the Game and Fish and most license vendors.
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