PORT CANAVERAL, Florida -- Sixty-seven
people lost their lives in Florida last year in boating accidents according
to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) which
has released its 2011 Boating Accident Statistical Report. Four of those deaths took place in Brevard County.
Brevard County placed eighth out of all Florida counties for the most amount of reportable boating accidents with 25 accidents. Monroe County was number one with 93 accidents followed by Miami-Dade County with 75.
The
FWC is responsible for reviewing, analyzing and compiling boating
accident data for the state. Its statistical report details boating
accidents
and their causes.
“The
frequency of boating accidents in Florida and their causes would
probably shock most people,” said Investigator Andy Bickel, of the FWC’s
Division of Law Enforcement.
“We want to reduce the number of accidents, injuries and deaths on Florida waters,” Bickel said.
Drowning is the leading cause of death in boating accidents, statistics show.
“There’s
an easy fix. Wear a life jacket,” Bickel said. “There are several
styles of life jackets available to boaters that won’t interfere
with your boating experience and may save your life.”
Today’s
boaters can choose from several models of light and comfortable,
inflatable belt-pack and over-the-shoulder life jackets that can be
worn while fishing or enjoying the sun, and they do not interfere with
boating activities.
Accidents
can occur without warning, and if for some reason someone ends up in
the water, quite often it’s too late to put on a life jacket.
“The
leading type of accident continues to be boaters colliding with other
boats or objects,” Bickel said. “With the number of boaters in our
beautiful state, it’s important to pay close attention to everything
that’s going on around your boat.”
Statistics
repeatedly show that boaters who have taken a basic boating safety
class are less likely to be involved in a serious boating accident.
The
2011 Boating Accident Statistical Report is now available online at MyFWC.com/Boating, click on “Boating Accidents.”
Twenty-eight boating accidents deaths have occurred so far this year in Florida.
1 comment:
Is this another case of the news media stirring up another "safety" concern so we'll pass more draconian laws so we'll have less freedom and more "safety"?? Sounds like it to me..
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