Boating on Icy Waters? Don't Forget Your Lifejacket
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"The environmental police recommend that boaters wear lifejackets year-round, but during cool and cold weather months, it's the law in Massachusetts," said MEP Director Col. Aaron Gross in a statement. "This reminder serves two very important purposes. It could save you from an unwelcome visit from an enforcement officer, and — much more importantly — it could save your life."
The agency notes that the first warm days of spring can mask water temperatures that are dangerously cold. If paddlers capsize or fall overboard, they can succumb within minutes to hypothermia (the lowering of a person's internal body temperature), which deadens arms and legs and renders a victim unable to swim, paddle, or stay afloat.
A related danger — the "cold water-immersion reflex," whereby a victim, shocked by frigid water, involuntarily gasps and ingests a significant amount of water — can lead to death by drowning.
In the 13 fatal boating accidents in Massachusetts in 2008 (up from nine in 2007), none of the victims was wearing a lifejacket. Not wearing a lifejacket, operator inattention, overloading and small-boat instability were significant factors in most of the 2008 fatalities.
Massachusetts boating regulations require that all persons aboard canoes and kayaks between Sept. 15 and May 15 wear a Coast Guard-approved Type I, II or III PFD at all times while a boat is under way. In addition, environmental police recommend wearing a flotation device as standard practice year-round, and reminds boaters that children under 12 are required to wear them in boats of all types throughout the year. While most lifejackets will not prevent hypothermia, they do give the victim one less thing to worry about: staying afloat.
"In Massachusetts and nationwide, most boating fatalities start as a capsizing or fall overboard, and, historically, 80 percent of the victims are not wearing lifejackets," Gross said. "Lifejacket wear gives victims and rescuers additional precious time to help themselves out of a potentially tragic episode."
The MEP also encourages all boaters to take a state-approved boating safety course. Visit the Web site for links to the MEP boating course schedule, other approved course providers, and information about state boating laws.
