Safe at Sea: May 22-28 to mark National Safe Boating Week
Here in Southwest Florida, every week of the year should be Safe Boating Week; however, across the country, the “official” National Safe Boating Week is in May. Undoubtedly, this is the case because the boating season opens throughout the nation in May, even in the far reaches of Minnesota where Mother’s Day weekend is always the “fishing opener.”
On a more somber note, National Safe Boating Week is always in May, perhaps, because May is — and has been historically — the deadliest month of the year for boaters.
Recently, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Division of Law Enforcement released its 2020 Boating Accident Statistical Report, which is available at www.MyFWS.com. Utilizing graphs, the report depicts the numbers, types and causes of boating accidents and fatalities at the county, state and national levels. The following are highlights of the 2020 report:
– Florida is at the top of the 10 states with the highest number of boating accidents, with a total of 679. California follows with a sharply contrasting total of 324.
– Similarly, Florida has the largest number of registered vessels with 935,742, followed by California with 813,953.
– In Florida, there was an approximate 14 percent increase in reportable boating accidents from 2019 to 2020, despite a much smaller increase in registered boats (0.025 percent).
– Florida’s boating fatalities reached their highest level at 79, up from a five-year average in the mid-to-upper 60s.
– Among Florida counties, Lee County reported the fifth highest number of reportable accidents with 48, fatalities with three, and injuries with 27.
– The majority of boating fatalities were from drowning, yet 73 percent of those people were not wearing life jackets. Seventy percent of the drowning victims could swim.
The top eight causes of accidents and steps everyone should take to prevent them:
– Nov. 1: Operator inattention. While this covers a vast array of mistakes, every boat operator should have a proper identified “lookout” on board.
– Nov. 2: Operator inexperience. Boating education is critical to safe boating. Boaters can sign up for one of the America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva many courses at www.sancapboating.com.
– Nov. 3: Machinery failure. Establish a routine schedule of maintenance and stick to it.
– Nov. 4: Weather. There is no excuse for not checking the day’s forecast. Weather prediction is at our fingertips, literally.
– Nov. 5: Excessive speed.
– Nov. 6: Carelessness/recklessness. These last two causes go hand-in-hand. No boat should be powered by anyone who does not grasp the responsibility placed in his or her hands.
– Nov. 7: Hazardous water. Once you have been alerted about severe weather, realize the seas can — and will — change dramatically and swiftly. Seek shelter.
– Nov. 8: Alcohol use. Boat sober!
In closing, refer back to the start of this column: Every week is Safe Boating Week!
Pat Schmidt is a member of America’s Boating Club of Sanibel-Captiva. For more about the chapter and its boating education courses, visit www.sancapboating.club or contact education@sanibelcaptivasps.org or 612-987-2125.