SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard rescued a woman in distress near Sevenmile Slough in Solano Monday evening.
Watchstanders at Coast Guard Station Rio Vista received a call from Solano County Fire Department of a woman in distress aboard a life raft in the vicinity of Rivers Edge Marina at Sevenmile Slough.
At approximately 5:17 p.m., the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center received a report by Station Rio Vista and immediately issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast. A rescue boatcrew was launched immediately from Station Rio Vista to conduct a search of the area where the woman was last seen.
Once on scene, the rescue boatcrew heard calls for help and diverted to the area locating the missing woman floating on a life ring. She was safely transferred aboard the Coast Guard vessel. The crew reported the woman showing signs of hypothermia, and she was immediately transported to Rivers Edge Marina where local emergency medical service personnel were standing by to render assistance.
"Because the incident occurred at sunset, there was less daylight, making it more challenging to locate her in the dark,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Mandy Braasch. “However, in this situation, the woman had a life ring, which significantly contributed to her survival and rescue. Even if the air temperature is warmer, the water is colder and can contribute to a victim becoming hypothermic."
The Coast Guard would like to remind the public of the dangers of cold water drowning. Hypothermia may set within one hour of entering the water. When a cold water drowning situation begins, a person has about one minute to gain control of their breathing and 10 minutes or less of meaningful movement and muscle control to get themselves out of the water. Hypothermia may set in within one hour, but without a life jacket, the victim is likely to drown before that occurs.