Your vessel is in distress and the order has been given to abandon ship. If you must enter the water which of the following would aid in preventing hypothermia?

Correct Answer: Option D — apply as many layers of clothing as possible before donning a survival suit to preserve body heat

SOLAS and USCG survival guidelines dictate wearing multiple thermal layers beneath immersion suits to trap insulating air pockets. Trapped air significantly reduces conductive and convective heat loss when exposed to freezing maritime environments.