The following is part of a summer blog series with a focus on NOAA Safety Tips written by Marissa Pekular (Intern)
If you’re one of the 100 million Americans who go boating each year, chances are you enjoy admiring beautiful scenery, making the most of great weather, fishing, swimming, and even just relaxing.
However, boating can present serious risks when you’re out on the water. In 2021, the US Coast Guard reported 4,439 boating accidents, resulting in 658 fatalities. Boating hazards include drowning, shock, electric shock, other injuries such as slip and falls, and being caught in dangerous weather.
To reduce the potential risks associated with a day on the water, it’s important to be prepared when boating. Here are some tips to ensure your boat outing is as safe as possible:
By following these safety tips, you can significantly reduce your risk of injury. Check out these helpful resources from NOAA and its partners.
NOAA Safe Boating:
https://www.weather.gov/safety/safeboating
US Coast Guard Safe Boating Division
https://uscgboating.org/index.php
National Safe Boating Council
Source: www.commerce.gov