Boating Deaths Down in FLA

Congratulations Florida. Only 41 people died boating in your state so far this year... 
 

Photo Courtesy of The U.S. Coast Guard.

Come'on boaters, we can do better than this. And not just in Florida, but all over the country.

A recent article from firstcoastnews.com points out that in 2012, "41 people have died in boating accidents across Florida. That's down from 49 deaths through the same period last year."

Not a bad improvement, but as the article points out, Florida is still the perennial leader in boating deaths.


We all realize that much of it is a numbers game. Florida is one of the biggest boating states in the country due to its abundant sunshine, abundant coastline and abundant population. More boats on the water means more accidents, but perhaps that is a reason for Florida boaters (and boaters in other locations with crowded waters) to take boating safety even more seriously.

• It's not okay for your kids to be on a boat without wearing a life jacket - even if you survived your childhood without one. (Think car-seats and seat belts... times have changed.)

• It's not okay to operate your boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs - even if you survived so far without thinking twice about it.

• Experience is wonderful, but there's nothing like a boating safety course to refresh your knowledge. Even if you pick up just one small nugget of knowledge, it might just help the next time you're out on the water.

We don't mean to be preachy here... we're just trying to save lives, possibly even ours. But even if you don't care about anybody else, please remember: The life you save may be your own.