Ride the waves with care

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With the arrival of summer weather also comes recreational water activities like boating, jet skiing, tubing and kayaking. While these activities can be fun for the whole family, the National Safe Boating Council urges caution to those recreating on the water.

Boat operator inattention is a serious concern. In 2016, the NSBC reports there were 4,463 boating accidents which resulted in more than 700 unnecessary deaths. Four of the top five primary contributing factors have to do with a lack of attention or knowledge/skill of the boat operator:

  1. operator inattention
  2. operator inexperience
  3. improper lookout
  4. excessive speeds

“The July 4th holiday is a great time to celebrate our freedom with family and friends,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council and lead organization for the Safe Boating Campaign. “If you are fishing, boating or just enjoying the day on the water, it’s important to boat responsibly.”

The Safe Boating Campaign shares these important boating safety reminders:

  • Always wear a life jacket. Drowning is the reported cause of death in 76 percent of all boating fatalities – and 84.5 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket in 2017. Boaters should wear a properly fitted life jacket in good condition at all times while boating.
  • Use an engine cut-off device. An engine cut-off device is a proven safety device to stop the boat’s engine should the operator unexpectedly fall overboard. In 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 172 accidents in which at least one person was struck by a propeller. These accidents resulted in 31 deaths and 162 injuries, all of which could be prevented if the boat operator was wearing an engine cutoff device.
  • Never boat under the influence. Boating under the influence, or BUI, is the leading contributing factor in recreational boater deaths. The side effects of alcohol or drug use, such as impaired judgment, reduced balance and poor coordination, are magnified while boating. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, a partner of the Safe Boating Campaign, is coordinating the 10th annual Operation Dry Water from June 30-July 2 in every U.S. state and territory to raise awareness about BUI dangers.

The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. All statistics are from the Coast Guard. More boating safety tips are available at www.safeboatingcampaign.com/resources.

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Ride the waves with care