Boating Safety
National
Safe Boating Week: May
22-28, 2004
Boat
Smart. Boat Safe. Wear It!
More than
70,000,000 Americans enjoy recreational boating each year. Annual boat registrations have increased steadily from just
over 10 million in 1988 to more than 12.8 million in 2002. During this same time period, boating-related fatalities have
decreased, due in part to increased use of life jackets, or personal
flotation devices (PDF). Unfortunately, 2002 witnessed a reverse
in this downward trend with 750 boating fatalities—the highest number
of deaths since 1998. May
22-28, 2004 marks the start of summer and National Safe Boating Week. The theme for this year’s North American Safe Boating
Campaign is "Boat smart. Boat safe. Wear it!”
In 2002, 4,062 participants were reported injured and 750 killed in boating incidents. Among
those who died, approximately 8 out of 10 were not wearing life
jackets. The North
American Safe Boating Campaign wants to raise awareness and ensure
that every person on a boat is wearing a life jacket.
Information
about the North American Safe Boating Campaign and event planning
materials are available from the
campaign website.
Quick Facts
-
In 2002, the U.S. Coast
Guard received reports for 5,705 boating incidents; 4,062 participants
were reported injured and 750 killed in boating incidents.
-
The
number of drownings as a percent of total boating fatalities declined
from 82% in 1990 to 70% in 2002; the remainder of boating fatalities
were due to trauma, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, or other
causes.
-
Alcohol involvement
was documented in 38% of the boating fatalities in reported incidents.
-
Open motor boats were
involved in 56% of all reported fatalities and personal watercraft were
involved in another 10%.
Tips for Preventing Boat Injuries and Deaths
Wear
Your Life Jacket While Boating
During 2002, capsizings or falls overboard led to 417 deaths--56% of
all recreational boating deaths that year.
Approximately 90% of these victims drowned.
Life
jacket use by all boat occupants can reduce drownings.
All states and territories (except Hawaii, Idaho, and
Guam) have a mandate regarding the wearing of life jackets, though
they vary and many only pertain to children under age 12.
Coast Guard-approved life jackets are now more attractive in
appearance and comfortable to wear.
When properly fitted, a life jacket or PFD can prevent a
tragedy.
Avoid
Alcoholic Beverages While Boating
Alcohol use affects judgment, vision, balance, and coordination.
U.S. Coast Guard data show that in fatalities involving alcohol
use, over half of the victims capsized their boat and/or fell
overboard. Additionally,
more than one-third of all fatalities resulting from a collision
involved alcohol use.
Complete
a Boating Education Course
Approximately 70% of reported incidents involve operator controllable
factors. The primary
causes of incidents are operator inattention, carelessness or
recklessness, inexperience, unsafe speeds, and failure of the operator
or passenger-“lookout” to identify hazards.
Boating
education courses teach the regulatory and statutory rules (“Rules
of the Road”) for the safe operation and navigation of recreational
boats. During 2002, 80% of all boating fatalities occurred on boats
where the boat operator had not attended a boating safety education
course.
Participate
in the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) Program
The Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is a free public service provided by the
Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteer organizations
promoting boating safety. These
volunteer personnel check safety equipment and provide information
about equipment purpose, safety procedures and applicable regulations.
For more information on the VSC Program, visit their web
site: http://safetyseal.net/index. asp
Be
Aware of the Risk of
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
All internal
combustion engines emit CO, an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas.
In the early stages, the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar
to seasickness and CO can kill in a matter of minutes.
Significant CO poisoning potential can include the use of air
conditioning powered by an onboard motor generator; operation of any
gasoline powered engine while docked and/or rafted with other boats
operating engines; or being underway with improper cabin ventilation.
To avoid CO poisoning, be aware of the risk, ensure sufficient
ventilation, properly install and maintain equipment, and utilize CO
detectors, especially in living and sleeping areas.
Be
sure to check state and local requirements, available from the
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators website,
before boating as there are
different rules and regulations for operator-age, safety equipment,
etc. in different parts of the country.
For
More Information
Baron RL,
Radtke T.
Houseboat-associated carbon monoxide poisonings on Lake
Powell--Arizona and Utah, 2000. MMWR 2000;49(49):1105-8.
Available at URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4949a1.htm
Baron RL,
Radtke T.
Notice to Readers: National Safe Boating Week --- May 19--25, 2001. MMWR
2001;50(20):415.
Available at URL:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm4949a1.htm
Richards RJW,
Richards NN, Powell KE, Baron R, McCammon J, Redd SC, Mott JA,
Stock AL. CDC. Carbon
monoxide poisoning resulting from exposure to ski-boat
exhaust--Georgia, June 2002. MMWR 2002;51(37):829-30. Available
at URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5137a3.htm
Roberts P, Ward M,
Baron RL, Humble W, Hadzihasanovic M, Cox R, Tapp L, McCammon J,
McCleery R. Carbon Monoxide Poisonings Resulting from Open Air
Exposures to Operating Motorboats --- Lake Havasu City, Arizona, 2003
. MMWR 2004; 53(15):314-8. Available at URL
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5315a3.htm
National
Association of State Boating Law Administrators
National
Safe Boating Council
North
American Safe Boating Campaign
U.S.
Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety |