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PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT  
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BUFFALO NY  
1104 AM EDT FRI APR 18 2025  
   
..KAYAK AND BOATER COLD WATER MESSAGE  
 
COLD WATER IS DEFINED AS ANY WATER WITH A TEMPERATURE OF  
70 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT OR LOWER. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF  
COLD WATER. AVERAGE WATER TEMPERATURES FOR THE GREAT LAKES  
BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER ARE TYPICALLY BELOW 70 DEGREES  
FAHRENHEIT. THE DANGERS OF COLD WATER CAN BE DECEIVING WHEN AIR  
TEMPERATURES ARE WARM.  
 
THE FIRST IMPACTS OF COLD WATER ARE PANIC AND SHOCK. THE INITIAL  
SHOCK CAN SEVERELY STRAIN THE BODY AND MAY CAUSE INSTANT CARDIAC  
ARREST. SURVIVORS OF COLD-WATER ACCIDENTS OFTEN DESCRIBE HAVING  
THEIR BREATH KNOCKED OUT OF THEM, CAUSING INVOLUNTARY GASPING  
WHICH COULD RESULT IN DROWNING. DISORIENTATION MAY ALSO OCCUR  
AFTER COLD WATER IMMERSION. WITHIN 10 MINUTES YOU CAN LOSE MUSCLE  
CONTROL WHERE SIMPLE TASKS LIKE KEEPING YOUR HEAD ABOVE WATER CAN  
BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT. LONGER EXPOSURE CAN LEAD TO  
HYPOTHERMIA AND DEATH.  
 
THE NWS AND U.S. COAST GUARD URGE THE FOLLOWING SAFETY MEASURES  
TO PROTECT YOURSELF AND MAXIMIZE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THE WATER:  
 
* WHEN YOU ARE ON THE WATER ALWAYS WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET! BRIGHT  
COLOR LIFE JACKETS WITH REFLECTIVE TAPE IMPROVE THE ODDS OF A  
SURVIVOR BEING LOCATED DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS AND AT NIGHT.  
 
* CONSIDER WATER TEMPERATURE AS WELL AS AIR TEMPERATURE WHEN  
VENTURING OUT ON THE WATER.  
 
* WEAR COLD WATER PROTECTION GEAR FOR THE WATER TEMPERATURE, NOT  
THE AIR TEMPERATURE.  
 
* ALWAYS LET SOMEONE KNOW YOUR PLANS. BE SURE TO EXPLAIN TO THAT  
PERSON THAT YOU ARE RELYING ON THEM TO GET HELP IF SOMETHING  
GOES WRONG OR IF YOU DO NOT RETURN WHEN EXPECTED.  
 
* BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEATHER FORECAST AND WATER CONDITIONS  
BEFORE YOU GO OUT ON THE WATER.  
 
* IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT GOING OUT, DON'T GO.  
 
SAFE BOATING/PADDLING IS NO ACCIDENT! PLEASE ALLOW FOR EXTRA  
CAUTION IF VENTURING OUT INTO COLD WATER. BE ON ALERT FOR GUSTY  
WINDS OR CHOPPY WAVES THAT CAN EASILY RESULT IN IMMERSION. TO  
INCREASE YOUR SAFETY, CONSULT THE FORECAST BEFORE VENTURING OUT  
ON THE WATER.  
 
FOR FORECAST INFORMATION:  
 
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV  
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON COLD WATER GO TO:  
 
HTTPS://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SAFETY/COLDWATER  
 
 
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