January 18, 2018 - Water doesn't have to be extremely cold to cause hypothermia. Any water that's colder than normal body temperature causes heat loss. The following tips may increase your survival time in cold water if you accidentally fall in:
- Wear a life jacket: If you plan to ride in a watercraft, wear a life jacket. A life jacket can help you stay alive longer in cold water by enabling you to float without using energy and by providing some insulation. Keep a whistle attached to your life jacket to signal for help.
- Get out of the water if possible. Get out of the water as much as possible, such as climbing onto a capsized boat or grabbing onto a floating object.
- Don't attempt to swim unless you're close to safety. Unless a boat, another person or a life jacket is close by, stay put. Swimming will use up energy and may shorten survival time.
- Position your body to minimize heat loss. Use a body position known as the heat escape lessening position (HELP) to reduce heat loss while you wait for assistance. Hold your knees to your chest to protect the trunk of your body. If the lifejacket you are wearing turns your face down in this position, bring your legs tightly together, your arms to your sides and your head back.
- Huddle with others. If you've fallen into cold water with other people, keep warm by facing each other in a tight circle.
- Don't remove your clothing. While you're in the water, don't remove clothing because it helps to insulate you from the water. Buckle, button and zip up your clothes. Cover your head if possible. Remove clothing only after you're safely out of the water and can take measures to get dry and warm.
Source: Mayo Clinic
Possible new law could mean more ways for Texas felons to hunt
I've received dozens of e-mails, letters and phones calls from readers with all sorts inquiries over the years, but up until now I'd never received one from a prison inmate with Texas Department of Corrections return address.
The letter was forwarded to me from a freelance client shortly after it was announced that the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is considering the legalization of air bows and big bore air rifles that meet minimum requirements for hunting deer and other game animals.
Citing himself as one of nearly 150,000 inmates in then TDC prison system, the inmate raised the question as to whether or not convicted felons would be able to use air bows and big bore air rifles to go hunting in Texas if they are made legal.
"I know at least 1/3 of us and also those on parole or those who have finished their sentence who would like to be able to go hunting," he wrote. "The money generated would help fund TPWD."
I've got a pretty good handle on the legal means and methods allowed for hunting in Texas. Penal code stuff…. not so much.
To learn more, I forwarded the letter to Ellis Powell, TPWD's Assistant Commander of Law Enforcement and asked for some answers.
According to Powell, convicted felons are currently prohibited from possessing a firearm by state and federal law. However, current laws do not prohibit felons from hunting using legal archery gear like compound bows, recurve bows or crossbows, or replica muzzleloaders.
"Unless the terms of a person’s probation or parole specifically prevents possession of these weapons, a person may use them to hunt in Texas," Powell said.
Powell pointed out that current Parks and Wildlife Code only allows the use of air guns for hunting squirrels, while air bows are only allowed for the take of non-game species.
But that could change this spring, according Robert MacDonald, TPWD regulations coordinator. MacDonald said TPWD wildlife staff is expected to present a formal proposal to the TPW Commission later this month to establish the conditions under which air rifles and airbows would be lawful for the take of alligators, turkey, non-migratory game birds and big game animals including white-tailed deer, mule deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep and javelina.
If approved by the Commission, the proposal will be placed up for public comment and the regulations could be adopted or rejected at the March 21-22 commission meeting.
If adopted, Powell said convicted felons will able to use either weapon for hunting provided it is not a violation of their terms of probation or parole.
For those who may not know, air bows operate similar to crossbows except they use compressed air to propel arrows as fast as 450 feet per second. The weapons, which retail for around $1,000, are much easier to arm and disarm than traditional archery gear and crossbows.
Big bore air rifles also rely on compressed air to fire large caliber pellets at super fast speeds with an effective range similar to today's muzzleloaders. They are available in a range of calibers with big bore models like the .45, .357 and .457 delivering gobs of knock down power. Prices vary from around $750 to $2,000 or more.
Matt Williams is a freelance writer based in Nacogdoches. He can be reached by e-mail, mattwillwrite4u@yahoo.com.
