Just off the Oregon coast, a fishing boat filled with eager tourists pulled out of the harbor on a beautiful, sunny, cool day. The tide was unusually low as the boat was crossing the bar. This was the third boat to go out that morning, and the first two encountered no problems. This boat, however, was hit broadside by a wave and capsized. About half of the passengers
were wearing life jackets. Some of the passengers were trapped below deck in the overturned boat and attempted to break through the glass barriers to swim to the surface. Hypothermia set in within minutes, and 10 of the 17 passengers drowned. Two persons were not recovered.

Case Study Questions

1. Describe the physiological effects of hypothermia.
2. What preventative measures could the tourists have taken?
3. What preventative measures could the captain of the boat have taken?