HUNTERS MUST EXERCISE EXTRA CAUTION AROUND WATER IN WINTER MONTHS

CLINTON -- The much-borrowed phrase, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," could well be applied to the current waterfowl hunting season. While Missouri hunters have been blessed with an abundance of ducks and geese this year, they've also been cursed with a remarkable number of accidents involving the deadly combination of wind, cold and water. Officials with the Missouri Water Patrol and the Missouri Department of Conservation say anyone who enjoys outdoor activity during the winter should consider the lessons implicit in the experiences of those who have come to grief in boats recently.

Hans Huenink, director of communication for the Water Patrol, says that 12 people died in boating and drowning accidents in Missouri during October and November alone. Most were hunters, with the majority of those being deer hunters.

Water Patrol records show that five men who had been deer hunting on Angle Island in the Mississippi River near Louisiana, Mo., Nov. 16 were returning from their hunt at 4 p.m. when their woefully overloaded 15-foot johnboat was swamped by waves. The hunters' ages ranged from 55 to 69. Two were wearing life jackets, which probably saved their lives. They were still floating when rescuers arrived. The other three, who were not wearing floatation devices, died.

"The air temperature was 45 degrees, and the water temperature in that instance was 48 degrees," said Huenink. "Water that cold saps the heat from your body, you've got just a few minutes to get to safety. After that, you can't move your arms and legs enough to keep your head above water."

The next day, two men and one of the men's two sons were returning from a duck hunting trip on Truman Lake late in the afternoon when windswept waves swamped their boat. The boys were wearing life jackets, and all four managed to climb atop the capsized boat. There they huddled in a 50-degree, 25 mph wind until 3 a.m. When officers of the Water Patrol found them, they were severely chilled and shaky, showing the first signs of hypothermia.

"The officers who rescued them said they were in pretty bad shape," said Huenink. "It seems likely they would have died if they hadn't been found until the next morning."

Huenink said the case of the duck hunters points up the fact that extreme cold is not necessary for the onset of hypothermia -- the lowering of temperature in the body's core. A hiker caught in a cool shower on a windy day risks hypothermia too. Three-quarters of all hypothermia deaths occur when the air temperature is between 30 and 50 degrees.

The best cure for hypothermia is prevention. Be extra careful when boating in winter. Don't take chances when an accidental soaking could leave you more than a few minutes from help. To avoid a soaking, never overload your boat. Also, don't head out in bad weather, and start for home at the first sign of a change for the worse in weather conditions.

Huenink says it is extremely important to leave an itinerary with someone who is expecting your return from a winter boating trip. Be as specific as possible so rescuers can find you quickly if necessary.

Clothing is your first line of defense against hypothermia. Hunters who venture out in boats should invest in floatation suits, which provide extra insulation along with the floatation of a life jacket. And hypothermia can be a killer even without being tossed in the drink, so go prepared for the worst possible weather. Take a rain poncho, even if there is no rain or snow in the weather forecast. Choose garments that retain their insulating properties even when wet. Wool and synthetic insulating materials are good choices. Cotton and down feel great when they are dry, but are virtually useless when soaked.

You or a friend may become chilled in spite of these precautions, so it is important to know the symptoms of hypothermia. The first is uncontrollable shivering. Begin treating for hypothermia immediately when you see this warning sign. Delaying could prove fatal.

Get the victim to a heated shelter and into dry clothing. If no dry clothes are available, leave the wet ones on. Even soaked clothing has some insulating value. If no shelter is available, build a fire. Better yet, build two fires and put the victim between them. Or take advantage of others' body heat by putting the victim in a sleeping bag with one or two other people.

Warm drinks are one of the best treatments for hypothermia. Always carry a thermos of hot coffee, cocoa or soup for emergencies. If food is available, have the victim eat to replenish lost energy. Don't offer liquor. Alcoholic beverages actually make hypothermia worse. As hypothermia worsens, victims show slurred speech, stumbling, confusion and drowsiness. Persons with these symptoms may appear drunk. This is no laughing matter. They need help immediately. Loss of consciousness is the final symptom before death.

"Don't go out alone," advised Huenink. "If you get in trouble, stay calm; don't lose your head. And wear a life jacket and protective clothing, because they do save lives."