In the past two weeks, two people have died on the Great Lakes. A Canadian fisherman died on the St. Mary’s River in late October. A Wisconsin man disappeared Saturday while sailing with his family on his sailboat’s maiden voyage. Neither victim was wearing a lifejacket or exposure suit. The Coast Guard highly encourages all boaters to wear anti-exposure garments along with their lifejackets during the cold boating season.

Water temperatures in Lake Michigan are currently in the mid-50’s, allowing a maximum survival time of about 4 hours. Cold water robs the body of heat 25 times faster than air, dramatically reducing one’s ability to survive. The body’s core temperature can begin to drop within minutes. Estimated survival time will significantly decrease as the water temperatures get colder. As winter approaches, water temperatures will drop below forty degrees (F), with a survival time of less than one hour. Statistics show 86 percent of all drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets.

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