Cold Water Immersion Effects with KGW's Drew Carney (2016)

The Marine Board's Public Information Officer, Ashley Massey takes the plunge to demonstrate the effects of cold water immersion and the importance of wearing a life jacket. Melissa Rinehart from the US Army Corps of Engineers explains what happens when a person suddenly falls into the water, as it's happening to Ashley, to KGW's Drew Carney. In Oregon's waterways, hypothermia is not the primary cause to drowning...it's the initial immersion in cold water -the first 60 seconds can mean survival, or not. The most important piece of equipment to tip the scale is whether a person is wearing a life jacket. The Marine Board and other water safety partners encourage everyone to wear a properly fitting life jacket whenever you're near or on the water. Oregon's waterways are cold most of the year, with unstable banks and sharp drop offs. The region is also famous for its swift moving rivers and whitewater, in addition to the Pacific Ocean. Always wear your life jacket.