RALEIGH, N.C. (April 15, 2015) — With seven boating fatalities already reported this year in North Carolina, the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission urges boaters to follow a few simple steps to ensure safety.
Last year, the Wildlife Commission recorded 27 fatalities in 23 fatal boating accidents, of 130 boating accidents investigated.
“We want to help everyone have a safe, enjoyable boating experience,” said Maj. Chris Huebner, the state boating safety coordinator. “If there is a single recommendation to start with, it is: ‘Wear a life vest.’ It is an effective life-saving strategy.”
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show drowning as the cause of death in almost three-fourths of recent recreational boating fatalities, with 84 percent of victims not wearing a life vest.
“Most people who drown in a boating accident had a life vest available, but they were not wearing it when they went into the water,” Huebner said. “You don’t have to be on a moving boat or in turbulent waters to fall overboard. Accidents happen quickly. Wearing a life vest is the best way to be prepared.”
Another important preparation to ensure a safe boating experience is conducting a pre-launch inspection to make sure the vessel is in good working order and all required safety equipment is on board. Once underway, do not maneuver in a reckless manner, pay attention to navigational markers and other boaters, and never operate a boat while impaired by alcohol or drugs. If you’ve ever been in a boating accident with someone doing one or more of these things then you might want to look for a Personal Injury Lawyer St. Louis.
North Carolina requires anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who is operating a vessel powered by a 10-horsepower or greater motor to have completed an approved boating safety education course or otherwise be in compliance with the law. For more information, call 919-707-0031 or visit www.ncwildlife.org/boating.
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