The drowning of a 34-year-old man last week on Lake Quonnipaug highlights the dangers that recreationists face when playing on or in area waters. As this death clearly indicates, a fun day on the water can turn tragic instantly, and the town’s emergency personnel are asking residents to keep in mind some simple tips this season, as our waters slowly begin to warm and attract more users.

On May 22, the Guilford Fire Department received an emergency call for a swimmer in distress on Lake Quonnipaug. According to Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) Environmental Conservation Police Captain Keith Williams, a 34-year-old man was out on a kayak when his craft capsized, forcing him into the water. The individual was not wearing a life jacket, according to Williams, and drowned.

The individual was identified by DEEP Police as Rodrigo Tocto of Orange. Williams said that family members of Tocto stated that he was not a strong swimmer and when he lost a paddle, he unintentionally capsized the craft attempting to retrieve the oar and went into the water.

Guilford Emergency Services confirmed that Tocto was found unresponsive by dive teams shortly before 6 p.m. He was brought to a Yale New Haven Hospital but did not survive.

Experts stress how hazardous the waters in our area can be, especially this time of year, and especially with such a large disparity between the air and water temperatures. According to hypothermia and water safety experts, human beings suffer an involuntary gasping response when the face is immersed in cold/cool water. The response is uncontrolled gasping, hyperventilation, loss of dexterity and swimming ability — all in a matter of seconds.

The Cold Water Gasp Reflex response is involuntary and makes it extremely difficult to control one’s breathing. The gasping and hyperventilation causes anyone immersed to quickly lose their strength and ability to keep their airway above the surface of the water, and drownings can, and do, often occur in less than 30 seconds.

This affect is amplified when the ambient air temperature and heavy humidity are so much higher than the cold waters of area lakes, ponds, and sound. Experts remind anyone going on or near the water to wear a personal flotation device (PFD)/life vest and to understand the hazards of falling into cold and cool water.

Sadly, a 16-year-old boy drowned in the Nehantic Forest on Uncas Pond in Lyme on May 21. Emergency officials in that incident cited the low water temperature as a factor in that death. And another swimmer in distress was saved by bystanders at Great Hill Pond in Portland just hours before Tocto lost his life on lake Quonnipaug.

Guilford Deputy Fire Marshal Jim Considine said the tragedy is a blunt reminder of how deadly and hazardous the waters in our area actually are.

“Life jackets are the most important thing to remember when you’re out on the water, especially this early in the season. It doesn’t matter how strong or weak of a swimmer you are, you have to have your PFD on,” said Considine.

In news footage of the incident, other kayakers and paddle craft operators could be viewed out on the water with no life vests at the same time emergency personnel were trying to locate and save a drowning victim. According to Considine, the lack of knowledge by many recreationists and the refusal to properly use safety gear is disheartening for EMS providers.

“It is really frustrating to see that. We did have some people question us as to why we weren’t enforcing the rules,” he said, noting that in Connecticut, paddlers must wear a life vest from Oct. 1 through May 31, and children under 12 must wear a PFD all the time, “but at that time all of our assets were geared toward finding this individual that went under the water. The biggest thing is to educate the best we can through classes and social media. But we can’t express enough the importance enough to wear your PFD especially this time of year when the water is so cold.”

Another factor that many people do not consider is the danger that emergency personnel face when responding to these water based rescues and emergencies. Dive teams, DEEP officials, and municipal EMS crews are the ones who must respond, placing themselves in harm’s way to affect a rescue or recover a body.

Experts caution anyone to keep in mind how dangerous waters can be and to wear a life vest/PFD at all times when on the water. Victims of drownings often never intend to even be in the water and few seconds of preparation can keep everyone safe this season.

Editor’s note: Ben Rayner is a former safety diver, survival instructor, and underwater egress instructor. He runs a drowning prevention nonprofit and has written extensively on water safety and risk management for the marine and aviation industries.