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FWC urges boaters to think safety in
face of record fatalities
May 23, 2007
Contact: Officer Joanne Adams (863) 581-6990;
or Gary Morse, (863) 227-3830
During the first four months of 2007, a record
number of fatal boating accidents, 32 in all, took place in
Florida. Search and rescue efforts have been discontinued for
three other boaters who are still listed as missing. If this
pace continues, 2007 will eclipse the all-time record for
Sunshine State boating fatalities by a wide margin.
To stem this tragic and unnecessary trend,
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law
enforcement officers will be on patrol from Saturday through
Monday with an expanded presence on lakes, rivers and along the
coast to help ensure a safe boating weekend.
According to statistics compiled by the FWC’s
Office of Boating and Waterways, the number-one cause of boating
deaths in Florida is drowning. This Memorial Day weekend, the
FWC reminds boaters to be safe on the state’s waterways and to
wear their life jackets.
“With the high comfort level and freedom of
movement provided by the new generation of affordable Coast
Guard-approved inflatable life jackets, there’s no good reason
not to wear one,” said Gary Morse, public information
coordinator for the FWC’s Southwest Region.
The law says there must be one properly fitted,
Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board a
vessel and children under the age of 6 must be wearing their
life jackets at all times.
However, just having life jackets on board is
not enough. FWC officers who perform safety checks on vessels
often find life vests stowed in a compartment where several
steps are required to retrieve one. They regularly find life
jackets still in their original plastic wrappers from the
manufacturer.
“Life jackets that are not readily accessible
are not in compliance with the law or its intent,” Morse said.
He said, in an emergency, there is no time to
dig around for a life jacket, let alone unwrap it and then try
to adjust it so it doesn’t fall off. Boats can go down quickly,
and boaters who get ejected are often unconscious. It is
extremely important that people wear their life jackets, or at
the very least, have them readily accessible and adjusted before
an accident happens.
Wearing a life jacket isn’t the only thing that
helps prevent serious accidents on the water, according to the
FWC. The list below contains some tips boaters should always
follow to keep boating adventures safe and fun.
Boating Safety Tips
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Be weather-wise. Consult weather forecasts
before you begin your outing, and get off the water before
bad weather hits.
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Make sure your boat and motor are in good
working condition.
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Check all safety equipment, including life
jackets, fire extinguishers, sound-producing devices and
visual distress signals.
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Maintain a sharp, 360-degree lookout at all
times for traffic and bad weather.
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Florida law requires children under 6 years
old, and all people using personal watercraft or water skis,
to wear life jackets.
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FWC boating safety experts say all boaters
should wear life jackets. For comfort, consider purchasing
the new U.S. Coast Guard-approved inflatable models.
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File a float plan. Tell a responsible person
where and when you are leaving, where you are going and your
estimated time of return.
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Carry a cellular phone, and be sure your VHF
radio is working properly.
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Don't overload your boat with people or
equipment.
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Everyone 21 years old or younger is required
to complete an FWC-approved boater education course to
operate most motorboats. The FWC encourages all boaters to
take a safe-boating course. Information on course
availability is at MyFWC.com.
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Alcohol is a major contributor to boating
fatalities. Often, impaired boaters come off the water and
become impaired drivers, further endangering public safety.
Don’t drink and operate a boat or vehicle.
If you would like more information boating
safety or statistical information on Florida boating accidents,
visit MyFWC.com and click on “Boating.”
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