SGT. 1ST CLASS MARCELO ACEVEDO
479th Field Artillery Brigade
Fort Cavazos, Texas
It was a chilly Friday evening in December when Melvin, my hunting and fishing buddy, called. He’d run into Wes, another mutual friend, and asked if I wanted to join them on a duck-hunting excursion. The weekend weather forecast called for fog, possible rain and winds — perfect conditions for duck hunting. I told Melvin, “Count me in.”
When I arrived at the boat launch the next morning, Melvin and Wes were already waiting on me to start our adventure. Without hesitation, I jumped out of the truck and grabbed my gear. I quickly realized how cold the morning was because I forgot my jacket. As I loaded my gear into the small aluminum jon boat, we exchanged greetings, and they began to harass me. “Things never change,” they said, referring to my chronic tardiness.
After a slow, cautious, 30-minute boat ride in the dark, we arrived at our destination and set up for the hunt. For the first two hours, everything went well. Then the fog began to lift, clouds rolled in and the wind picked up. We decided it was time to call it a day.
As we picked up the decoys, we noticed the water level was now lower. It appeared as if the water was being pushed out into the main lake by the wind, which was really whipping. Waves started pounding into the side of the boat, filling it with water. Within minutes, the water was up to my ankles and panic was setting in. We knew we had to get off the lake, so we headed toward the closest shore.
Within minutes, the water reached our calves. Still, never once did any of us consider what could happen next. If we had, we would have put on our life jackets, but no one even mentioned it. Just as the shore came into sight, a large wave struck the boat, causing it to capsize.
My first concern was keeping the water from filling my waders because the extra weight would make it harder for me to reach the surface. As luck would have it, the two dozen duck decoys we’d stored in mesh bags were trapped under the boat, keeping it afloat. As we all grasped onto the boat, I spotted a life jacket floating nearby, then another. I quickly put on one of them and threw the other to Melvin, who was shivering from the cold. Wes stayed afloat by hanging onto a decoy bag he pulled from beneath the boat.
As we waded in the water, nothing seemed logical. We were stranded in the middle of a lake and any attempt to swim safely to shore seemed impossible because of the rough waters. We clung onto our boat for about 45 minutes when another boat appeared in view. As the boat approached, however, it made a 90 degree turn away from us. Without hesitation, I told Melvin and Wes to steady the boat while I climbed on top, removed my life jacket and waved it in the air as we all shouted. Fortunately, it worked, and the boat turned back toward us.
The relief that we’d been rescued must have stopped my adrenaline rush because I could feel the crisp winter chill through my wet clothes. After safely returning us to our vehicles, we thanked our rescuer and exchanged contact information, hoping that we could one day return the favor.
Today, I am a boat owner and always ensure all my passengers wear a life jacket whenever we’re out on the water. Also, whenever I plan a water outing, I make sure I let someone know my planned location, to include check-in times. Better planning and taking into consideration any environmental changes could have minimized or prevented our close call on the lake. I chose to learn from our mistakes. We’re lucky this lesson learned didn’t cost us our lives.
FYI
Life jackets should be worn at all times by the boat operator and every passenger onboard. They’re even more critical when the danger of hypothermia is added to other concerns. Sudden immersion in cold water can have severe physiological consequences, including cardiac arrest, quick loss of body heat (the body loses heat 25 times faster in cold water than in cold air) and involuntary inhalation of water (gasping) that results in drowning. A life jacket can keep the wearer’s head above water, keep them warm and provide a chance for rescue.
Wearing the right clothing also contributes to more enjoyable and safer cold-weather boating. Consider layering clothing, and including a wet suit or dry suit, to help ward off hypothermia. Here are some additional tips for safe winter boating:
- Assess the risks. Think what can go wrong and be fully equipped and prepared.
- Leave a float plan with a responsible individual who knows your intentions, location and who to call if you fail to return as scheduled.
- Carry a VHF radio and an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), signal flares and other means to draw attention to your location.
- Be aware of and prepared for the shock of sudden immersion and the incapacitating effects of cold water. Dress to get wet and carry a change of clothing in a waterproof container.
- Be aware of activity around your vessel and the potential for fast-changing weather.
- Boat safe and sober. Save the alcohol for when you’ve safely returned.
- Be sure your vessel is in good operating condition and has the necessary safety equipment onboard before you leave the dock.
- Refresh your seamanship skills. Take a boating safety course offered by your local Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla.
Source: American Boating Association