Contacts:

Dave White, New York Sea Grant, Recreation/Tourism Specialist, P: 315-312-3042, E: dgw9@cornell.edu

Drew Wickham, CNY Boat Show Manager, P: 585-526-5460, E: bia@rochester.rr.com

Dale Currier, Oswego County Office of Emergency Management, P: 315-591-9154

Publicist Kara Lynn Dunn, P: 315-465-7578, E: karalynn@gisco.net


U.S. Coast Guard ice rescue drill; Credit: USCG/Kevin Erwin

Syracuse, NY, January 24, 2014 – Cold Water Immersion Survival Medical Education Training for New York’s First Responders will be offered at the 2014 Central New York Boat Show by the Boating Industry Association of Upstate NY, New York Sea Grant, US Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA) and Oswego County Office of Emergency Management (EMS).
 
Personnel in uniform or visibly-identifiable as first responders will receive free entry to the Central New York Boat Show and the evening training program that will take place at 6pm on Wednesday, February 12 and repeat at 6pm on Thursday, February 13 at the event at the NYS Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY.
 
New York state-based firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, water and land search and rescue teams, police officers, USCGA, and other personnel who enter the water to respond to emergencies or await victims onshore have been invited to the special training that includes a half-hour classroom session taught by the Oswego County EMS and a half-hour in-water cold water survival demonstration by New York Sea Grant Great Lakes personnel.
 
Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit certificates, provided by Oswego County EMS, will be issued at the training. First responders do not need to pre-register to receive credit.
 
“For some first responders, this training is a new opportunity to learn about the medical aspects of cold water immersion survival and hypothermia with an in-water demonstration. For others, this course will be a good refresher on how to maintain their own medical safety in the water as well as that of victims,” Oswego County Office of Emergency Management Director Dale Currier said.
 
Currier notes that cold water survival in many waters in New York state is a concern from October through late May.
 
“It is not atypical to respond to numerous people who find themselves unexpectedly in cold water in the spring or fall seasons in New York waters,” Currier said.
 
The Cold Water Immersion Survival Medical Education Training for New York’s First Responders also covers appropriate cold water victim treatment for emergency medical services and land search and rescue personnel who do not enter the water environment but await victims onshore.
 
“The 2014 Central New York Boat Show is pleased to be the debut venue for this water safety education program designed for New York’s first responders who are so critical to boaters in trouble on the water. New York Sea Grant is also offering the in-water demonstration section of the course to the public every day of the show,” said Central New York Boat Show Manager Drew Wickham.
 
New York Sea Grant and USCGA will present free public-welcome in-water survival suit and life jackets and paddlesports safety demonstrations at 6:30pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm on Saturday; and at 12pm and 2pm on Sunday at the Central New York Boat Show in the Horticulture building.
 
The Central New York Boat Show exhibits more than 500 models of water vessels and personal watercraft. The Boating Information Center at the show will feature the 2014 New York Sea Grant Discover Clean and Safe Boats and New York Sea Grant Launch Steward voluntary watercraft inspection program along with boating, tourism, safety, invasive species and law enforcement exhibits by local, state and federal organizations. Throughout the show, boating, fishing and Adirondack guides, charter captains and water recreation industry leaders offer exhibits, information and mini-seminars.
 
Young Boater Safety Certification Training for ages 10-17 will also be offered at the Central New York Boat Show by the Boating Industries Association of Upstate NY and New York Sea Grant in partnership with the USCGA by pre-registration by phone at 315-312-3012; each youth receives three free show admission passes. The 8-hour training is required for youth to operate a boat or personal watercraft alone on NY waters.
 
The February 12-16, 2014 Central New York Boat Show hours are 1pm-9pm Wednesday-Friday, 10am-9m Saturday, and 10am-5pm Sunday at the NYS Fairgrounds. Admission is $10/person, children 13 and younger enter free with free parking and shuttles. Learn more at www.cnyboatshow.com.

More Info: New York Sea Grant

New York Sea Grant (NYSG), a cooperative program of Cornell University and the State University of New York, is one of 33 university-based programs under the National Sea Grant College Program (NSGCP) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The NSGCP engages this network of the nation’s top universities in conducting scientific research, education, training and extension projects designed to foster science-based decisions about the use and conservation of our aquatic resources. Through its statewide network of integrated services, NYSG has been promoting coastal vitality, environmental sustainability, and citizen awareness about the State’s marine and Great Lakes resources since 1971.

For updates on Sea Grant activities: www.nyseagrant.org has RSS, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube links. NYSG also offers a free e-list sign up via www.nyseagrant.org/coastlines for NY Coastlines, its flagship publication, which, in 2014, merges with the program's e-newsletter, Currents. NY Coastlines is published several times a year.