As the weather warms, more are shoving off for adventures on the Great Lakes. "Unfortunately, people are just running out there to have fun without thinking first and that's the problem," said Lauren Laughlin, Petty Officer Second Class of the U.S. Coast Guard. Boating fatalities increased in 2015, many of which could have been avoided by employing basic safety measures.
According to Coast Guard statistics, 626 boating fatalities occurred nationwide in 2015, an increase of 2.6 percent. The cause of death in 76 percent of the reported fatalities was drowning; of those victims, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
That obvious safety measure aside, Laughlin offers a few more basics.
"Have more than one way to communicate in case there is an emergency. Don't just take your cell phone. When you drop your cell phone in the water, you can't use it anymore. Get a waterproof marine radio."
She also encourages the use of what is called the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). Some of the mechanisms are designed to float away from a sinking vessel while transmitting location information to marine authorities.
It's difficult to imagine, but it appears a significant number of boaters may not possess rudimentary understanding of their crafts. Where the cause of death was known, 71 percent of those deaths occurred on vessels where the operator did not receive boating safety instruction. Laughlin maintains such knowledge is easily gathered. Calling the Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary is a starting point.
"These trained professionals will teach you everything you need to know about boating safely. They will work with you to make sure you have the proper equipment before going out and they will check to see if your boat is sea worthy."
If the predictions hold true, the year's warmest weather will be here for the holiday weekend, prompting more people to take to area waterways. With alcohol use playing a part in 15 percent of boating fatalities in 2015, mariners should pay heed to the advice to "not drink and boat."
National Safe Boating Week runs through May 27.
