Safety: Don’t Boat Without Your Life Jacket

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Don’t Boat Without Your Life Jacket

Daily Bread

The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.
James 5:15

When you head for the water this summer, don’t forget your life jacket. Personal flotation devices (PFDs) literally can mean the difference between life and death.

“Any time you are in any kind of boat – regardless of the size – you need to wear a personal flotation device,” said Diane Bell, director of Think First, a Baptist Memorial Health Care injury prevention program. “The potential of hitting your head and being knocked out is real.”

Still, research shows that only 22 percent of people wear a PFD while on recreational boats, according to the 2003 National PFD Wear Rate Observational Study commissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard.

“It’s considered nerdy and uncool, plus you won’t get a tan,” Bell said. “People are not thinking of safety.”

Drowning remains the number one cause of recreational boating fatalities. About 80 percent of people killed in boating accidents in 2001 were not wearing a PFD, according to the United States Coast Guard. In many cases, they were available on board, but passengers did not have time to put them on because the accident happened so quickly. The chances of surviving a serious boating accident increase dramatically by wearing a PFD.

Choosing a PFD Following are tips for choosing a personal flotation device. It should:

Fit snugly.
Be reflective in color.
Have at least three clips.
Have a flotation piece behind the neck to support the head in case one loses consciousness.

“Ski belts” that fit around the waist are not effective because they have no upper body support, Bell said.

For children, remember that “swimmies” and other “kiddie” floating toys are not lifesaving devices. Children should always wear an appropriate PFD. Children should never be left unattended in the water – even for a minute, Bell said.

Other boating safety tips
Boaters should take a boat safety course to learn about details such as currents, water temperature, buoys and waterway safety rules and regulations, Bell said.

In late fall and winter, fishers and other boaters should make sure to dress for the water temperature. “A lot of people die from hypothermia,” Bell said.

More safety tips:

Know how to swim.
Never leave children unattended in the water. Don’t take your eyes off them.
Always tell someone where you are going and the route you are taking.
Take a cell phone wrapped in a plastic bag that you have inflated with air so it will float, in case it is thrown out of the boat.
Make sure the boat is stocked with all necessary safety equipment, including a working flashlight, a tool kit, food, water and sunscreen.
Make sure the boat’s horn and radio work.
Check weather reports regularly.
Don’t drink alcohol while boating.
Remember, it is better to jump into a body of water than to dive. You can’t always tell how deep the water is and water levels can change quickly.

Make safety a part of your summer plans.

Published: June 16, 2005
Source: Diane Bell, Think First injury prevention program; U.S. Coast Guard
Writer: Elizabeth Todd Bartholomew, MA, APR

Baptist Minor Medical Centers provide a combination of urgent care, workers' compensation and a broad range of occupational health and preventive services, as well as fast, convenient care for minor illnesses and non-critical injuries such as sprains, cuts, insect bites, burns and rashes.

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