MUDDY CREEK TWP — When Chris Calhoun hears his team's tone over the emergency dispatch, he starts his watch.

As a member of Butler County Water Rescue Team 300, Calhoun sees the chances of the victim's survival get smaller with each changing of the numbers.

If that watch reaches the one-hour mark, Calhoun said, the odds are not in favor of the victim.

Calhoun said the dangers of the water can be life or death at any time, but accidents during the fall escalate much faster and the risks change as dramatically as the leaves. He said water temperature and the way people dress are big factors, even on the warmest fall days. The water can be cold enough to chill people through standard clothes and put someone into shock.

“You have these beautiful days, but that water is deceptively cold,” Calhoun said. “That's what gets people into trouble.”

This is where life preservers earn their name, according to Calhoun.

He said he recommends life vests regardless of season. But during the fall Pennsylvania law enforces these regulations on people in smaller boats.

Boaters are required, by law, to wear life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak during the colder weather months from Nov. 1 through April 30, according to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's website.

The requirement is intended to protect boaters from the dangers of cold water shock if they fall into the water.

[naviga:h3]Still boating in the fall[/naviga:h3]

Calhoun said the life jacket regulations address a new trend: Kayaking is rising in popularity. The trend also has translated into accidents this year, which makes him nervous.

Calhoun said kayaks increased in popularity because they have become cheaper. Some can be bought for as little as $200, and are easy to transport on the roofs of most cars. He said this means a lot of first-time kayakers are hitting the water. And some are trying to tackle more than they can handle.

“They can get themselves into trouble quickly with that lack of skill or not knowing what they don't know,” Calhoun said.

Calhoun said the average number of boating-related fatalities statewide per year is 12. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission reported nine last year.

Calhoun said there have already been 15 fatalities this year, and nine of the victims were kayakers.

He said kayakers are getting themselves into trouble locally too.

“Almost the majority of incidents that we've responded to (involve) kayaks,” Calhoun said.

People working at state parks in Butler County have seen this trend too, according to Dustin Drew, park manager for Moraine and McConnells Mill state parks.

“We're still not done with boating season,” he said.

Drew said people still use their motorboats for fishing and recreation through the fall. But kayakers also hit the lakes and streams to get a different perspective on the changing leaves.

Drew said the seasonal beauty comes with more risks. He said the parks' seasonal employees are typically released at the beginning of the fall, and people visit the park less frequently, which means fewer witnesses for accidents and emergency response times that can be longer.

“The fall and winter are the more critical response times,” he said.

Drew said one thing new kayakers can do is take a basics class in the summer to learn how to handle risky scenarios and enjoy the experience more safely.

[naviga:h3]Getting lost[/naviga:h3]

There's plenty of water on which to kayak and fish at Lake Arthur, which encompasses more than 3,225 acres. That's a more than 5 square miles that can be explored. But Drew said that the large amount of space also makes it easier for boaters and fishing enthusiasts to be turned around or misdirected.

That makes telling other people where you're going and what your schedule is important, Drew said. Sometimes emergency responders don't know where to begin searching for a lost person because they didn't have what's called a float plan.

Drew said a float plan tells friends and family where a person is launching, where they plan on going and what stops they may make along the way.

“Stuff like that could save you,” he said.

Filing such plans has become more convenient in recent years. In 2015 the U.S. Coast Guard released its official phone application, which includes a function that makes filing float plans more convenient. The app, available on Apple and Android stores, allows the user to set a float plan on their phone and email that plan to friends and family. This means boaters have more time to submit the plan, even sending it right before they launch.

Drew said people don't just get lost on the water. Without Lake Arthur, Moraine State Park still has more than 10,000 acres with plenty of trails for both hiking and horseback riding. If lost, especially in the dark, he said the safest thing for someone to do is stay put and call for help. He advised people to turn off Wi-Fi searching, the flashlight and any other background apps on their phone, but to leave the GPS on. That allows rescuers to ping the phone's location, if necessary, and it keeps the phone's battery from draining too quickly.

<h3>Don't rely on tech</h3>Calhoun said the best way to stay safe is being prepared. And while many people look to their phones to do that, technology can only help so much.“You have to make adjustments to the conditions and risks,” Calhoun said.He said phones offer a unique opportunity to blend technology with the outdoors, but it shouldn't be the only tool people rely on because of one simple thing: batteries die.Poor reception and damaged phones also can leave hikers and boaters in an undesirable situation. Drew said relying on a phone entirely is dangerous and keeps people from practicing other techniques, like learning how to read topographical maps and packing emergency gear.“People aren't getting outdoors like they used to because we have become attached to technology,” he said.<h3>Stay alert</h3>Part of being safe in the outdoors during fall comes from knowledge and awareness of your surroundings.Drew said people tend to stop worrying about ticks after summer winds down, but they can remain active during cooler weather as well.“(Ticks) can stay very active,” he said. “The best thing is to check yourself when you get back.”Calhoun said poison ivy loses its leaves during the fall, but that doesn't eliminate the risk for hikers and campers. He said that being able to identify the vine itself would be helpful, especially when picking firewood.Fire burns the plant, but the toxin remains unaffected and is actually dispersed in the smoke. The smoke can cause the same reaction as physical contact with the plant, and if inhaled can irritate the lungs.Park visitors should also be aware of hunters in the area.“Most of the park is open to hunting,” he said. “Our advice — and not just to hunters — is to wear orange.”Calhoun said dog owners can still enjoy the park with their furry friends, but they should keep their pets on a leash.“A dog on the loose in the woods could be mistaken (for game),” he said.Drew said the park has not had too many problems with interactions between hunters and other visitors. But hunters should also pay more attention to their surroundings and take extra time when deciding whether or not to take a shot.“They've got to be prepared and really know that they're going to take a safe shot,” he said.<h3>Enjoy safely</h3>Drew said despite all the added changes the season brings, the park still offers many of the same opportunities as in the summer. He said the park can still be enjoyed, and it offers a fresh perspective on its unique scenery.“There's still a lot of activity on weekdays and weeknights,” Drew said.In addition to the previous activities, visitors can find a disc golf course that Drew said is popular. And he said the parks' bike paths are cleaned regularly in the fall to keep leaves from building up.“We do blow off the paved trails,” he said. “We do make an attempt to keep that clean,” he said.Drew said bird watching is very popular during the fall as well.“That's big this time of year with migrations,” he said.Drew said there are many fun things to do at the parks, and he just wants people to enjoy them safely.“We don't want to scare people into not coming,” he said.Drew said keeping people aware of the dangers may prevent the large number of emergency calls in parks during the changing seasons.“Not that (responders) mind coming out here and helping, but the less they have to do so, the better for everybody,” he said.It also keeps responders like Calhoun happy. He said sometimes the most nerve-racking times of the year for emergency responders are the two weeks when the change-of-seasons occurs, because the risks change too. He said he worries that people might not see those risks.“We just want to re-enforce outdoor safety,” Calhoun said.