June 29, 2006
Avoid the Booze, Wear A Life Jacket And Lives Would Be Saved
Too much of one thing and not enough of another explains largely the reasons why five Ohioans have died in boating-related accidents during May and June.
Excessive alcohol consumption was cited as a primary contributing factor in the deaths of two men in separate incidents that occurred May 20 in Lorain County and June 11 in Wayne County. Failure to wear a life jacket was a principal cause of drowning deaths in each of the first five fatal incidents that most recently included the Father’s Day death of a 32-year-old man on Piedmont Lake in Belmont County.
An Aurora man died June 20 when he fell out of powerboat on Mosquito Creek Lake and sustained severe head trauma and other injuries when he was struck by the boat’s propeller.
National statistics reveal that drowning is the most frequent cause of death in boating-related fatalities. Among those who drown, 85 percent failed to wear or properly wear a life jacket when their incidents occurred. Alcohol is cited as a significant contributing factor in one of every three boating-related fatalities occurring in the U.S.
People falling overboard and boats that capsize are the most frequent reasons why emergencies occur on the water when it comes to boating activity. Division of Watercraft investigators say if each Ohio boating victim this year had been properly wearing a life jacket, they would have survived their boating emergencies. Alcohol was cited as a primary factor in two of the five fatalities this year.
The fact that three of the four lakes where boaters have died initially this year are privately owned and therefore not patrolled by watercraft officers does not excuse a failure to heed boating safety messages widely distributed by the Division of Watercraft and its boating partners.
As a five-day July 4th summer holiday weekend (June 30 - July 4) fast approaches, concern must be given to at least the messages of avoiding alcohol consumption while boating and ensuring that each boating passenger is properly wearing an approved life jacket. The cost of a basic life jacket ($35) minus the cost of a bottle of hard liquor or case of beer ($20) equals a mere $15. Boaters need to seriously ask themselves if their life is worth $15. Avoiding the booze and wearing a life jacket alone is a $15 proposition that can save many lives.
Additional boating safety tips are found on this Division of Watercraft web page and also continue being broadcast this boating season on more than 100 Ohio radio stations.
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