EAST PEORIA, Ill. – It’s National Safe Boating Week, just in time for the unofficial start to summer…Memorial Day Weekend.
Whether you’re a seasoned boater or new to boating, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Commander Sarah Reid says, it’s essential to take a boater education course, never boat under the influence, use an engine cutoff device, carry crucial safety gear, file a float plan, and check the weather before you head out to the water.
In 2023, the U.S. Coast Guard found that 87-percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
Wearing the correct type of life jacket and wearing it properly can make all the difference.
” You want it to be snug, you don’t wanna be able to crawl out of your life jacket, especially for children, it needs to fit tightly, the latches need to be latched properly, and make sure it is a Coast Guard-approved life jacket,” Lt. Reid tells 25 News.
The U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets will have a label identifying them as approved. What you plan to do on the water will also determine the kind of personal flotation device you should use.
Lt. Reid also emphasized the importance of having a sober boat driver. In 2023, alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, accounting for 17-percent of deaths where the primary cause was known.
Reid says if you find yourself in an emergency on the water, call 911 immediately.
