Georgia Hunter Education Course Practice Exam

What should you do if you fall into cold water in a boating accident?

1. Swim to keep warm

2. Remove your clothing to reduce weight

3. Get out of the water as quickly as possible

4. Try to re-enter your boat or find floating debris to hold onto

The correct answer is: Try to re-enter your boat or find floating debris to hold onto

If you fall into cold water in a boating accident, it is crucial to try to re-enter your boat or find floating debris to hold onto, which is the correct answer. This action provides the best chance for staying afloat and being visible to rescuers. Swimming to keep warm, as mentioned in option A, could potentially exhaust you quicker and increase heat loss due to movement in the water. Removing clothing to reduce weight, as suggested in option B, is not a recommended practice as clothing can provide insulation against cold water. Getting out of the water as quickly as possible, as mentioned in option C, may not be feasible or safe depending on the circumstances, so it's vital to take measures to stay afloat and signal for help by clinging to boat or debris, as emphasized in choosing option D.