Glossary
HELP position
Heat Escape Lessening Position: knees to chest, arms at your sides, to slow heat loss while you wait in cold water.
The HELP position, short for Heat Escape Lessening Position, is a way to hold your body in cold water to slow heat loss while you wait for rescue. It is meant to be used with a life jacket, which keeps you afloat while you stay still.
According to U.S. Coast Guard guidance shared by the National Weather Service (opens in a new tab):
- draw your knees up to your chin and keep your legs together;
- press both arms against your sides;
- keep your head out of the water.
The Minnesota DNR (opens in a new tab) adds to keep your hands high on your shoulders or neck, and suggests practicing the position in a pool before you ever need it. If several people are in the water with life jackets, the NWS and DNR recommend the huddle, where small groups hold each other chest to chest, with children in the middle; it saves heat and is easier for rescuers to spot.
The NWS's other cold-water survival advice: get out of the water as soon as you safely can, use floating objects to get more of your body out of the water, and if you can't reach safety, stay calm and save your energy. See what to do if you fall into cold water.
What you can do today: practice the HELP position in a life jacket at a pool, so it comes naturally.