04-10-2007, 07:10 PM
The numbers are sobering. So far this year, there have been 18 boating accident fatalities in Florida, putting boaters on track to have one of the deadliest seasons in the past 15 years.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says today there is somebody who can reverse the trend as we begin the busiest boating days of the year.<br />
"If you want to talk to that person, all you have to do is find a mirror," says FWC Capt. Richard Moore. "The FWC is urging boaters to take boating safety seriously and focus on two critical messages: Pay attention to your surroundings; and wear your life jacket."<br />
Moore says most boating accidents are preventable if boaters pay close attention to their surroundings and stay alert, and most drowning fatalities are preventable if people wear their life jackets.
"We have to find a way to convince more boaters that basic boating safety is a critical part of being on the water," Moore says. "Eighteen people have died in boating accidents so far this year, and that is 18 too many."
Moore says people wear bike helmets, and they wear seat belts. Life jackets make just as much sense, because they can make so much difference.
"They should wear their life jackets and practice safe boating," he says. "Many lives can be saved simply if boaters made it a habit always to wear life jackets, and it's easier than ever these days since the introduction of inflatable life jackets."
Accidents occur primarily on small craft and involve a single vessel. The primary cause of accidents is driver inattentiveness, according to FWC boating accident reports. Col. Julie Jones, director of the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement, says FWC officers will be on the water throughout Florida during the boating season.
"FWC officers will be patrolling and watching for unsafe vessel operation, and they will be enforcing boating safety laws," she says. "We'll do our part to reverse this accident trend, but the real solution lies with boaters."
"Remember," Moore says, "one bad decision can ruin a great day on the water."
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) says today there is somebody who can reverse the trend as we begin the busiest boating days of the year.<br />
"If you want to talk to that person, all you have to do is find a mirror," says FWC Capt. Richard Moore. "The FWC is urging boaters to take boating safety seriously and focus on two critical messages: Pay attention to your surroundings; and wear your life jacket."<br />
Moore says most boating accidents are preventable if boaters pay close attention to their surroundings and stay alert, and most drowning fatalities are preventable if people wear their life jackets.
"We have to find a way to convince more boaters that basic boating safety is a critical part of being on the water," Moore says. "Eighteen people have died in boating accidents so far this year, and that is 18 too many."
Moore says people wear bike helmets, and they wear seat belts. Life jackets make just as much sense, because they can make so much difference.
"They should wear their life jackets and practice safe boating," he says. "Many lives can be saved simply if boaters made it a habit always to wear life jackets, and it's easier than ever these days since the introduction of inflatable life jackets."
Accidents occur primarily on small craft and involve a single vessel. The primary cause of accidents is driver inattentiveness, according to FWC boating accident reports. Col. Julie Jones, director of the FWC's Division of Law Enforcement, says FWC officers will be on the water throughout Florida during the boating season.
"FWC officers will be patrolling and watching for unsafe vessel operation, and they will be enforcing boating safety laws," she says. "We'll do our part to reverse this accident trend, but the real solution lies with boaters."
"Remember," Moore says, "one bad decision can ruin a great day on the water."