Life Jackets

[ericadawn16]

"In 2012, U.S. Coast Guard statistics show 459 boaters drowned. More than 82 percent of them were not wearing life jackets.
Quan's study found the average rate of life-jacket use overall was only 31 percent and just 21 percent in motorboats."

Please wear flotation devices, most of these drownings were people who were thrown overboard or their boat capsized. It's too late at that point to put something on so you need to be wearing protection ALL THE TIME on the water!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/02/20/us-health-lifejacket-drownings-idUSBREA1J1MZ20140220

There was a recent rescue with a whole family, including children, that would have definitely included fatalities but they were ALL wearing life jackets so everyone survived!

It should be a no brainer along with seat-belts. However, there is a movement to legislate their use just like seat-belts so that everyone under 18 would be REQUIRED to wear them.

Comments

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I can't agree more, but what pisses me off the government makes it a law to have to wear a seat belt, and may soon make it a law to have to wear a life jacket, BUT the motorcycle riders still don't have to wear helmets.
ARGH.........
I work on a trauma ICU and see the results of idiots not wearing helmets. :o
Hugs, Jon

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

State by state, most require at least some to wear them. Florida requires riders under 21 or too poor for good insurance to wear them. Sadly, they DID require all riders but the bikers begged and pleaded until it was changed.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

I think if they are going to not wear helmets they should be required to sign some sort of release so if they splat on the road, we don't waste time and money trying to save them.
That or before they get their license they have to tour a trauma ICU and rehab facility. :o

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

before they get their license they have to tour a trauma ICU and rehab facility. :o

They should also do this with teenagers getting their license.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

Agreed. :o

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more.

[dhampyresa.livejournal.com]

Isn't that the evry first thing you learn? To put on your life-jacket before you step onto the boat and only take it off when you're off the boat, I mean. Because it was that one time we went boating in summercamp.

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

Yes, because it's summer camp and they're liable but once people are boating on their own, they think nothing will happen so they don't...and then, they die.

Idiots

[aggiebell90]

This is SO incredibly important. It just makes me sad every summer when I hear that someone was boating on one of the local lakes and drowned especially when it's a kid. At least with adults, they made the choice to risk their lives. Kids have to rely on adults to help them make smart choices and often don't know better. :/

In Texas, the law says that kids under 13 have to be wearing a life jacket (on boats under 16 feet), and that there has to be a life jacket available for every person on the boat. Our family boating rules require that everyone who gets in one of our boats (and we have a lot of boats: 8 canoes, 4 kayaks, 2 sunfish, 1 dolphin senior, 2 catamarans, plus pieces/parts...*) wear a life jacket, no exceptions.

But then, I'm a former lifeguard, and my husband and oldest son are certified lifeguards for the Boy Scouts (certified BSA), so water safety is high on our priority list.

* Yes, there are 17 boats (plus parts) in my backyard. There are only 6 of us (and only 5 living at home). My husband is obsessed. :P

[ericadawn16.livejournal.com]

I love in Florida so I see nothing wrong with the number of boats as long as you have the space. :)

Yes, it's things like not wearing seatbelts, life jackets and not recycling that makes me think Darwinism isn't applicable to humans.