| OSMB News |
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| Date: June 18, 2007 |
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Life Jackets - Even Confident Boaters Need to Wear Them
For Immediate Release
During the 2006 boating season, there were too many mornings I began my day perusing the newspapers only to read about another drowning or boating fatality. Empathy quickly turned to frustration. There were 20 fatalities onOregon ’s waterways, and all but four people were not wearing life jackets.
It’s a fact that life jackets save lives, and they must be worn to be effective.
That mantra should be ringing in the ears of every Oregonian who takes to our state’s great outdoors to fish, waterski, sail, paddle, or just cruise along the waterways. But every year, a fun day on the water needlessly turns tragic, simply because someone was not wearing a life jacket or recklessly consumed alcohol.
We are fortunate that Oregon has a relatively good record of safe boating practices. Sadly though, when it comes to boating safely on our state’s waterways, there is something we have in common with the rest of the nation: boaters who don’t wear life jackets and who choose to drink and boat are much more likely to be involved in an accident — or worse yet, drown. Each year 50 percent of boating accidents and one-third of boating fatalities in Oregon are alcohol-related, and these statistical facts have been consistent for decades.
The most frustrating thing is that most fatalities are preventable if boat passengers and operators would wear personal flotation devices (life jackets) and boat sober. The statistics tell the story:
• Although approximately 90 percent of Oregon adults buckle up when driving or riding in a vehicle, only 10 percent of Oregonians age 18 and older regularly wear a life jacket when boating.
• Yet, we estimate that wearing a life jacket would save the lives of approximately 85 percent of the people who drown in Oregon boating accidents every year.
With such compelling figures, why then do we still face a safe boating problem? Some long-held misconceptions about wearing life jackets and drinking while boating keep people from taking adequate precautions. Here’s the straight scoop:
- Myth: I can grab a life jacket in an emergency. Fact: Waiting to put on a life jacket until faced with an emergency is like trying to buckle your seat belt as you are heading into a car crash. Accidents typically occur quickly and unexpectedly, making it nearly impossible to reach for, let alone put on a life jacket. Like seat belts, wearing a life jacket needs to become a habit.
- Myth: If a boater is experienced or comfortable with their judgment and skills, they will know how to handle an emergency. Fact: Being complacent and having an attitude of “it won’t happen to me,” can invite the inevitable. First responders often hear survivors’ accounts that reflect a high comfort level before an accident. It’s important to think about what you would do if your boat capsizes, collides with an object or if someone falls overboard.
- Myth: Wearing a life jacket is hot, bulky and impedes recreational fun. Fact: Newer life jackets are lightweight and more comfortable than ever to wear, including inflatables that can be worn around the waist and jackets that don’t look like life jackets at all.
- Myth: Excellent swimmers don’t need to wear life jackets. Fact: An unexpected plunge into cold and often swift Northwest waters can incapacitate even the best swimmers from cold water immersion. This applies to everyone looking to take a quick dip; from a boat or
the shoreline.
- Myth: It’s okay to moderately drink while boating; besides, you only get arrested if you blow an 0.08. Fact: Alcohol’s impairs your judgment first, then your vision, balance and coordination. These effects are amplified on the water and can be observed below a 0.08% blood alcohol concentration (BAC), increasing the likelihood of a boating accident. Plus, boating under the influence of intoxicants (BUII) is illegal in Oregon,
and officers can still arrest boaters based on observed impairment at levels below
0.08% BAC.
- Myth: As long as the boat operator doesn’t drink, there’s no harm if passengers have a few. Fact: Most boating fatalities occur from falls overboard. Intoxicated passengers and boat operators are equally at risk.
Certainly, with nearly 200,000 registered boats in Oregon, many boaters do practice safe boating. We want to ensure a safe boating experience for everyone this summer. The heartache one fatality causes a family and friends is one too many. There’s an easy solution: Wear a PFD, boat sober and make Oregon ’s 2007 boating season a great one to remember.
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 About the author:
Ashley Massey is an avid boater and is the public information specialist
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