Recreational boating is one of the most enjoyable pastimes one could wish for. It offers a unique opportunity to be one with nature and its creatures. Yet we all know that every time we are on the water, we are also at the mercy of Mother Nature — and she can turn on the unsuspecting and unprepared with speed and fury.

Most boaters are familiar with the hazards of drowning, carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia, heat stroke and blunt trauma. We often forget that while these hazards can cause an immediate threat, at the root of that threat is the fact that each may trigger a cardiac incident. We can be treated for most conditions, providing we receive immediate qualified assistance. But if your heart has stopped, there is no assistance that can be quick enough.