Sudden immersion in cold water causes the body’s core temperature to drop rapidly, leading to life-threatening hypothermia. The Heat Escape Lessening Posture (H.E.L.P.) is a survival technique designed to conserve body heat while waiting for rescue. The posture works by minimizing the exposure of the body’s high-heat-loss areas to the cold water. This technique reduces the body’s cooling rate by roughly a third compared to treading water or swimming. This allows the individual to preserve energy and maintain a stable internal temperature for a longer period.
Proper Hand Placement in the H.E.L.P. Position
The placement of the hands and arms insulates areas where blood flows close to the skin’s surface. In the H.E.L.P. position, cross your arms tightly across your chest. The hands and forearms are then tucked flat underneath the opposite armpits or hugged against the sides of the rib cage.
The armpits (axillary region) are a major area of heat loss because they contain large blood vessels near the skin. Covering this area creates an insulating layer of clothing and trapped water. This action slows the transfer of heat away from the body’s core, shielding the lateral thorax.
Executing the Full Heat Escape Lessening Posture
The hand placement works in concert with the full body tuck, often described as a fetal position. To execute the posture, draw your knees up as closely as possible to your chest. The arms, already covering the chest and armpits, are then used to grasp or hug the drawn-up knees.
This lower body action protects the groin and inner thigh areas. The groin contains the femoral arteries, large vessels where heat loss can be substantial. Pulling the knees toward the chest presses the inner thighs together, using the lower body as a natural barrier. This overall posture minimizes movement and reduces the body surface area exposed to the water, limiting heat loss through conduction.
Group Survival and Alternative Postures
The H.E.L.P. position is designed for an individual wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) who is alone in the water. If a PFD makes a full fetal tuck difficult, the individual should still cross their arms tightly over the chest. They must also keep their legs pressed together as much as possible to limit core heat loss.
When multiple people are in the water, the most effective survival technique is the “Huddle” position. This involves two or more people pressing their chests tightly together and interlocking their arms over each other’s shoulders or under their arms. Intertwining the legs can further reduce the surface area exposed to the cold water. This group position maximizes shared body heat and provides a larger, more visible target for rescuers.