Surviving Cold Water Immersion
Cold-water immersion is the cause of many boating-related fatalities. The danger increases as water temperature decreases below normal body temperature (98.6 degrees F). With current water temperatures in the 30 degree range, it is imperative that boaters and those working or playing near the water be prepared for the possibility of falling in the water.
STAGES OF COLD-WATER IMMERSION
- Cold shock. You have one minute to adjust to the cold shock response – don’t panic.
- Swimming failure. You have 10-minutes of meaningful movement to get help and get out of the water.
- You have about one hour before you become unconscious from hypothermia.
- Post-rescue collapse. You “give up” and collapse after or right at the time of rescue.
Immersion in cold water speeds the loss of body heat and can lead to hypothermia. Hypothermia is the abnormal lowering of internal body temperature. If your vessel capsizes, it will likely float on or just below the surface. Outboard-powered vessels, built after 1978, are designed to support you even if full of water or capsized. To reduce the effects of hypothermia, get in or on the boat. Try to get as much of your body out of the water as possible. If you do not get in the boat, a life jacket will enable you to keep your head out of the water. This is important because about 50 percent of body heat loss is from the head.
Boating activities in the winter months can be an enjoyable escape. But planning for the worst may keep you alive! Follow the Cold Water Boating Tips, never boat alone and wear an approved life jacket anytime you are near the water. Based on current temperatures, just walking to a dock can result in a fall into the water when you step on an ice covered deck. Even on those warm winter days in Oklahoma, water temperatures will remain dangerously cold for some time to come, so stay protected when near the lakes or rivers.
Public Encouraged to Participate in FERC Scoping Meetings
Last February, GRDA initiated the 5-year process to relicense the Pensacola Project, which allows the GRDA to operate the hydroelectric facility at Pensacola Dam that creates the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees. The current license for the Pensacola Project expires March 31, 2022. The public and our lakeside partners are invited to attend one or more of the scoping meetings that will be held in February. These scoping meetings are provided to assist the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in identifying particular study needs, as well as the scope of issues to be addressed as part of the initial phase of relicensing. All individuals, organizations and agencies that are impacted by the Pensacola Project and Grand Lake are encouraged to attend one or more of these meetings to learn more about the project and to have the opportunity to give your comments and suggestions on preliminary issues to be addressed.
The FERC Scoping meetings will be held at:
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 9 AM
GRDA Ecosystems and Education Center
Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 6 PM
Grove City Hall
104 W. 3rd Street
Grove, Oklahoma
Thursday, February 8, 2018 at 6 PM
Northeastern Oklahoma A & M College
Fine Arts Center of Performance Hall
*Friday, February 9, 2018 at 9 AM
GRDA Engineering and Technology Center
9933 E. 16th Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma
*(Please notify us in advance if you plan to attend this meeting by calling Jacklyn Jaggars at 918-256-0723.)
2018 Boating Safety Courses Scheduled
Once again GRDA Police will offer FREE Boating Safety Courses to the public. These course are provided by GRDA Police at NO COST to adults and kids 12 to 16 years of age that want to be certified to operate a boat or PWC. Our goal is to help ensure that your entire family is safe while having fun and in compliance with the law while on our lakes. Instruction in the one-day courses will include navigation rules, boat nomenclature and equipment, safety equipment, boating laws and information about safely navigating on GRDA lakes. We recommend that anybody that intends to operate a vessel to take this course, as it can also result in discounted rates on your insurance.
The Kyle Williams Boating Safety Act prohibits kids between the ages of 12 and up to 16 years of age, without a valid driver’s license, from operating a vessel powered by a motor of more than 10 horsepower or a sailing vessel 16 feet or longer without first completing a state approved boater safety course.
The classes will be held at the GRDA Ecosystems and Education building in Langley at the west end of Pensacola Dam on the following dates from 8:00 AM till 5:00 PM:
March 3, 2018
April 14, 2018
May 12, 2018
May 19, 2018
June 9, 2018
June 23, 2018
Anyone interested in attending the courses can register at http://www.grda.com/kyle-williams-boating-safety-classes-registration/.
Did You Know?
True or False: Boats that are 16 feet and over must carry one USCG approved throwable Lifejacket (Type IV).
Answer: True. Additionally, federal safe boating requirements maintain that all watercraft must contain at least one USCG approved wearable Lifejacket (Types I-III) for every person on board, and it's recommended to have a few extras on hand as well.
Water Safety Programs Continued for 2018
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Water Safety Programs Continued for 2018
In an effort to protect the users of our waterways, the GRDA Police are committed to reducing the incidents of drowning, especially among our most vulnerable citizens, our children.
From 2005-2014, there were an average of3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents. About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.
As a public service to Oklahoma communities, GRDA Police offer FREE water safety presentations for children of all ages. Uniformed officers will come to your school to provide the presentations, we offer a flexible format and can speak to individual classes or an entire school assembly. The length of the safety presentations can be as short as 20 minutes or up to 50 minutes, with time allowed for questions and answers.
We speak to your children about a number of topics:
- Water safety tips
- Hazards in the water
- Water conditions to avoid
- Proper fitting and use of life jackets
- What to do in case of drowning
For more information contact:
Ed Ferguson
Community Relations Officer, GRDA Police
918-256-0890 Email: ed.ferguson@grda.com
Help Make Boating Safer
In May 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard released their annual report which outlined 2014's recreational boating accidents. Among the various accident types involving water crafts nationwide, occurrences of falling overboard and being ejected from a vessel claimed a number of lives, injured many others and racked up millions of dollars in damages.
Accidents where individuals were ejected from a vessel topped the list with the most related injuries and casualties. Tragically, approximately 70% of the deaths were caused by drowning.
Frequency of Events In Accidents & Casualties Nationwide
Accident Type Times Accident Occurred Total Deaths Total Injuries Total Cost in Damages
Ejected From Vessel 1014 276 936 $6,455.578
Fell Overboard 311 168 159 $97,302
Get Connected
Rush for Brush Dates Announced
Mark your calendars now for the 2018 Rush for Brush program. The increasingly popular events will be held on Saturday, June 2nd at the GRDA Ecological and Education Systems in Langley and on Saturday, June 23rd at the Wolf Creek Park in Grove.
You can register for either event at http://www.grda.com/rush-for-brush-registration/
Boating Tips From the GLSPS
A great time to buy a new boat is at the upcoming boat shows in Tulsa and in Grove. Many dealers have special offers from the manufacturers that make it worthwhile to buy at the show.
Buying a boat does require several questions to be answered first. Will you be on larger lakes like Grand Lake or smaller lakes? Boating conditions can vary by the size of the water and boating activity. How many people do you plan to take on your boat? Smaller boats have capacity and weight limits. Larger boats will be yacht certified allowing more capacity. Do you plan to use your new boat for wake boarding, fishing, cruising the lake or maybe a combination of these activities?
Determining your use first will make it easier to choose your engine and propulsion systems such as outboard or inboard engine(s), stern drive (I/O), vee drive, straight shaft drive or jet drive.
Other factors that should be considered other than the initial expenses are operational, maintenance and storage expenses. These will all vary as to type of boat you have chosen.
Every new boater should take a boating course. Even experienced boaters can refresh their knowledge and pick up new tips by taking one every few years. America’s Boating Club, the United States Power Squadrons offers several courses online and in the classroom. For local information visit: usps.org/grandlake or Face Book at GLSPS.
Adopt-the-Shoreline
By the Book
The Administrative Regulations of GRDA describe the organizations, operations, and procedures for the Grand River Dam Authority with respect to its administration, rulemaking, and other activities and are intended to supplement and interpret pertinent provisions of state statutes.
The following information are excerpts of the GRDA Administrative Regulations Title 300 Chapter 35 that are provided in an effort to educate the public about what regulations are enforced on GRDA waterways and properties. Many of these regulations have changed effective September 11, 2017. All GRDA regulations are available for review at GRDA.com.
BOATING SAFETY RULES
300:35-5-6. Prohibited areas
All vessels are prohibited from entering any area within 200 feet below or above Pensacola, Kerr and Chimney Rock Dams. Vessels are prohibited within 500 feet below said dams during periods of hydrogeneration or the spilling of water through floodgates.
300:35-5-7. Night speed limit
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate any vessel upon the waters of GRDA, between the hours of one-half hour after sunset and one-half hour before sunrise at any speed in excess of twenty-five (25) miles per hour.
300:35-5-8. Skiing prohibited
(a) No skiing is allowed upstream of the Strang Bridge on Lake Hudson, upstream of Twin Bridges on Grand Lake, in Elm Creek east of Grove water intake tower, upstream of the Harbors View Marina (a/k/a the turn) on Duck Creek or upstream of the Lakemont Shores Ramp on Drowning Creek.
(b) Wake jumping is prohibited in Cowskin and Elk River and in any arm of Grand Lake that, in its name, ends in Creek, Cove or Hollow. Wake Jumping is defined as the act of repetitively crossing another vessel’s wake in such a fashion that the crossing vessel’s hull leaves the water.
Do you have a Special Event Planned?
PLEASE let us know about your lake or river events so we can provide the resources you may need to make it a positive experience!
2018 Special Events Schedule
January 26-27: OK RZR Riders Disney Invasion, Pensacola Dam Off-Road area
February 16-17: Sweethearts Run, Pensacola Dam Off-Road area
Fishing Tournament Meeting Planned for Area Anglers
To All Tournament Directors and Fishermen:
Are you planning on organizing a fishing tournament on GRDA lakes in the future? If so, you are invited to meet with us on February 24th at the Ecosystems and Education Center in Langley, Ok to learn about proper fish handling techniques. The meeting will start at 10:00 AM. Topics to be covered include:
- Fish handling in a boat
- Fish handling at tournament weigh-ins
- Proper ways to Fizz a Fish
GRDA Police and Gene Gilliland with B.A.S.S. will be on hand to answer questions regarding the three topics as well as any other questions.
Contact Officer Jason Littlefield at 918-530-6138 for further information.
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