Caution, safety measures can save lives in the water

By Archive

Published: May 22, 2008

Memorial Day weekend signals a tremendous increase in recreational activities across Florida.

Florida’s vast waterways will be the destination of residents and visitors alike. With more than one million registered vessels in the state, safety should be a primary concern.

Boating-related fatalities in Florida numbered 77 in 2007 and 69 in 2006, said Stan Kirkland of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The FWC compiles statistics on accidents, but the state agency also has plenty of safety advice to offer.

“One point we really want to stress is that 55 percent of those fatalities involved individuals drowning. Almost every one was not wearing a life jacket,” Kirkland said.

And that’s the point. A life jacket almost always prevents death when someone falls out of a boat. Other than being struck by the boats’ motor or some unusual circumstance, a properly fitted life jacket will save the life of the person overboard.

“Officer go back and interview family members of a victim, and it’s a difficult thing for everyone,” Kirkland said. “But so many times we are told that the victim was an excellent swimmer, that he or she could swim like a fish. That doesn’t replace the value and protection of a life jacket.”

When someone falls out of a boat, for example, there is a chance that the person could be stunned or knocked unconscious. Panic could set in, too. Without a life jacket, drowning becomes a great risk.

Safe boating, safer boats

Where boats are concerned, the choice is up to the individual. Nevertheless, boaters should be aware that boats with stick steering may be more prone to accidents in which an occupant is thrown out, Kirkland said.

“What happens is you can too much weight in the front or if you take your hand off the stick for a moment it can cause a problem,” Kirkland said.
He also said stick steering should not be confused with tiller steering, which is typically in smaller boats where the driver sits back by the engine to control speed and direction.

In fact, Kirkland said having a kill switch on any vessel carrying a motor of 10 horsepower and greater, with open construction, is advisable for safety’s sake.
When the driver of a boat is thrown out, there is a greater risk of injury when the boat begins circling in a doughnut pattern. A kill switch will stop the boat and allow the person overboard a chance to reclaim the vessel or get to other safety.

“It’s always important to be attentive. Never take your hands off when you’re steering,” Kirkland said.

New life jackets

Anyone who goes out in a boat should wear a life jacket, not just toss it in the boat and forget about it.

“One of the big knocks against life jackets has been that they are bulky and hot. But now there are some new types that are light-weight and fit in a manner that you hardly notice them,” Kirkland said.

The new life jackets come in a couple of different styles: one that inflates immediately upon contacting water, and another that inflates when you pull a chord.