Quote:
Originally Posted by This'nThat
From the Union Leader:
You don't have much time if you capsize. Especially in the current enviornment, where there are very few people around to notice what happens; nobody has any boats available; the MP aren't around; and no one can simply dive into the water to help out. Plus, the ice on the lake is tricky at this time of year. All these factors mean almost certain death if you fall into the water aways from shore -- even if you have a lifevest on. Be Safe!
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This needs to be emphasized every year, because in many years the lakes region gets the spring season's first 80-degree air temps while the water temp is still in the 40s. When that first dose of summer air gets here people don't think about water temp. While yesterday's event was not such a case, (the air temps were not summerlike,) we are set up for similar tragedies because of human psychology after the long, snowy winter we just had: People will be excited to see the open water when the ice thaws. If we get an 80-degree day as soon as the ice goes out, all everyone will see is blue water in summer air, and they won't be thinking 'hypothermia danger.'
The same combination of summerlike air and cold water sometimes happens very late in the season, like October, but the human psychology is different then. In October everyone knows summer's over, and 'prepare for cold' is on their minds.