The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is warning Connecticut residents and boaters that waters remain cold and dangerous despite spring's warmer weather.
DEEP Boating Division Director Eleanor Mariani told The Connecticut Post that it's more important during this time of year to take the proper safety precautions to minimize the chances of accidentally going into the water.
Exposure to cold water greatly increases the possibility of dying from drowning or cardiac arrest, according to DEEP officials.
The cold water threshold is generally considered to be anything less than 68 degrees, which the waters don't exceed in Connecticut before early June. Swimming in those temperatures becomes impossible within 30 minutes.
DEEP officials advise boaters to dress for water temperatures in spring months, not the air temperature.
