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Don’t Be One of the 500

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There have been plenty of reminders lately why boating safety is a deadly serious matter. The issue of safety comes into special focus this week, May 17-23, as it’s been officially designated as National Safe Boating Week — timed, of course, to immediately precede Memorial Day weekend. 

The most fundamental plea of the NSBW organizers is to wear a lifejacket whenever you’re out on the water, even on calm days. Why? We’ll let the stats do the talking: According to the US Coast Guard, roughly 500 people drown every year in recreational boating accidents. Of all boating fatalities last year, three quarters were due to drowning, and among those, 84% of victims were not wearing life jackets. 

While sailors are typically much more safety-conscious and better trained in basic seamanship than other types of watercraft, you don’t have to look very far into our archives to find examples of deaths or near-deaths involving our sport. So better safe than sorry.

As you can see in the 2013 analysis of accidents, the top five types of watercraft in terms of greatest numbers of injuries or deaths were: 1) open motorboats (272 deaths), personal watercraft (jet skis), cabin motorboats, canoes and kayaks, and pontoon boats. The top five contributing factors to all boating accidents were: 1) operator inattention, 2) improper lookout, 3) operator inexperience, 4) excessive speed, and 5) alcohol use. Check out the complete 2013 report here

Have fun out there, but please play it safe. 

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