In the most recent year with complete data, the US Coast Guard reports that there were 4062 recreational boating accidents in the U.S. and its territories in which 626 lives were lost and 2,620 were injured.
Almost 76% of the fatal accident victims drowned, and of these, 85% were reported as not wearing a life jacket. Eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using boats less than 21 feet in length.
BWI (Boating While Intoxicated) is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 17% of the deaths. Operators with a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent
(for most of us, that means just one to three beers) are 10 times as likely
to be killed in a boating accident as a sober boater.
Additional contributing
factors for deaths were hazardous waters, operator inattention, weather, operator inexperience, excessive speed, improper lookout, drug use, navigation rules violation, sharp turn, restricted vision,
failure to vent, and inadequate onboard navigation lights.
ABA encourages
every boater to be serious about boating safety, starting with the proper
kind and amount of boater training. Remember, a boating mishap or fatality
often involves innocent people who share in none of the blame, but all of
the consequence. As a responsible boater, the life you save may very well
be someone else's. Remember,B E S A F E* - KNOW YOUR...
Boat
Equipment
Safety devices and PFDs
Alcohol limits
First aid and emergency procedures
Environment (area and weather)
...BEFORE YOU GO!
* Source: National Safe Boating Council
Take a few
minutes to browse through the headings in this important section.
The following helpful boating pointers are useful to boaters of all types.
ABA assumes no responsibility or liability for events that occur due
to actions you or others on your behalf take based on the information given.
You are proceeding at your own risk.
It is always a good idea to use the
U.S. Coast Guard
Float Plan that describes the details of your planned outing. It contains
the who, what, where, when and how of your outing or trip. Simply fill out
the form before heading out on the water, print it, and leave it with a
person who can be depended upon to notify the local police, sheriff, Coast
Guard station or other rescue organization, should you not return as scheduled.
(Do not file this plan with the Coast Guard.) The information provided is
considered the "minimum" information needed when filling out a float plan.
Consider utilizing the back side(s) of these forms to provide as much detailed
information as possible to ensure complete information is on hand in the
event you should have a mishap.
Boating Accident Statistics
Read the latest recreational
boating accident statistics as compiled by the U.S. Coast Guard to learn
from others' mistakes. The information is available in Adobe PDF File format.
PFDs
Every member of your crew should have a
U.S. Coast Guard Approved Personal Flotation Device. PFDs, they float
you don't! Of the 519 recreational boating drowning deaths in 2000, the
US Coast Guard approximates that 445 lives could have been saved if the
victim had been wearing a life jacket. The following are guidelines for
the care and use of PFDs:
Buy your own life jacket, and wear it. One size does not fit all.
Look at the label for size and weight limitations.
Try it on and check the fit. With straps and buckles secured, the
life jacket should not slip over your head or cover your eyes.
Make sure the life jacket is Coast Guard approved.
Replace your life jacket if you find air leakage, mildew or rot.
Never alter a life jacket. It could lose its effectiveness.
Check your life jackets yearly for flotation and fit.
Wear a life jacket to set an example for younger children while
increasing your chances of survival.
Make the Memorial Day holiday a gift-giving event - buy your boating
children and (or) grandchildren a PFD fitted to their size at the beginning
of each boating season. Children need special care because of changing
size and distribution of body weight.
Children and Boating Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard provides great safety information for children.
It has numerous online coloring books available that you can use to help educate your children
on boating safety.
Most boating safety information only includes direct threats caused by
equipment failure, weather, alcohol, unsafe boating, or accidents. We think
that boaters should also think about their family's health and safety from
the perspective of environmental threats and
clean boating activities. Visit
our clean boating activities area
to learn more.
Contacts
For more information on boating safety and boating courses, contact your
State Boating Agency, Coast Guard District or call the Boating Safety Hotline
(1-800-368-5647).
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA)
has a representative responsible for boating safety education in each state,
Click here to find your state's representative.
To learn about the boating safety education requirements for your state,
Click here.
