If you fall overboard in cold water, what should you try to do?

• A. try to board boat from the motor (if off), even if boat is swamped
• B. swim toward shore immediately
• C. wait for rescue in place
• D. call for help only

Answer: (A)

In cold water, your best chance of survival is to stay with the boat and get back aboard if possible. The vessel, even if swamped, can provide buoyancy, shelter, and a target for rescuers, making it much easier to stay afloat and warm while help arrives. If you can reach a safe reboarding point, such as onto the motor or a reachable edge, calmly pull yourself back aboard rather than exhausting yourself swimming away.

Swimming toward shore immediately often leads to rapid fatigue in chilly conditions and you may not reach safety before hypothermia or exhaustion sets in. Waiting in place can be dangerous because you may drift away or go unnoticed by rescuers. Calling for help is important, but it should accompany any effort to reboard so you can stay out of the water and maintain warmth and buoyancy.