It may feel like summer, but the ocean is still cold
12:06 PM Fri, Jun 06, 2008 | Permalink
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It’s going to be hot this weekend –– height-of-summer-hot –– with temperatures expected to climb into the mid-90s. But it’s not the height of summer, and ocean waters betray that fact –– they’re still in the 50-degree range. The Coast Guard wants beachgoers, boaters and sun seekers to keep that in mind when they head to the beach this weekend. “I wish I could say it in gentler terms,” Al Johnson, Recreational Boating Specialist for the First Coast Guard District said in a statement. “But plain and simple, cold water shocks, incapacitates and kills, and our waters show no mercy to the innocent, unsuspecting or unprepared boater or paddler." "Wearing a life jacket isn’t guaranteed to save your life,” he added, “but it does guarantee a better chance of surviving.” In addition to life jackets, the Coast Guard recommends in a news release that boaters and paddlers get Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons vessel safety checks. For a list of additional suggestions for staying safe as spring comes to an end, click below. -- projo.com staff writer Brandie M. Jefferson • Leave a float plan with a responsible individual who knows your intentions, location, and who to call if you fail to return as scheduled. • Assess the risk -- be realistic about what can go wrong and be fully equipped and prepared to survive. • Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket and set the example for your passengers or paddling partners. • Be aware of and prepared for the shock of sudden immersion and the incapacitating effects of cold water. • Maintain situational awareness on the water -- be aware of boat traffic and activity around your vessel. • Boat sane, safe and sober -- save the alcohol for when you've safely returned. 
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