Wear a life jacket when boating - a PSA, not a metaphor (1 Viewer)

[Andy Dufresne]

I know wearing a life jacket is a pain, but consider this...

My cousin's fiance drowned last Saturday night after falling off his pontoon. They didn't find him until yesterday morning. He was with friends and had dropped everyone off at their cabin and was returning to his on the opposite side of the lake. They had probably had a few drinks but there's no indication yet if he was intoxicated. They'll likely never know exactly what happened.

So, at least throw a life jacket on when you're by yourself.

T&Ps aren't necessary as I didn't really know the guy. I'm just making this PSA so that you'll stay safe out there over the holiday weekend.

 

[[scooter]]

First time I went waterskiing, I was the only person who wore a lifejacket when I was in the boat. Everyone else made fun of me, but I was kind of shocked that nobody else was concerned enough to wear one in the first place. My dad had taught me when we went fishing when I was a little kid: EVERY TIME you get in a boat, you put on a life jacket, period.

 

[mr roboto]

Every time. Like a seat belt. 

 

[Henry Ford]

Every time. Like a seat belt. 

There have been a lot of times I have been an idiot and not worn my seatbelt.  I'm a very good swimmer, but I wear a life jacket every single time. 

 

[NutterButter]

Still ok to not wear one when lake kayaking?

 

[Galileo]

OP's story is tragic.  But if I am being honest, I never wear a life jacket on my boat.  

 

[boots11234]

The self inflating life jackets are hardly noticeable.  Wear it every time I'm in the boat. There's been many times I've gone into the house still wearing it without even noticing. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

OP's story is tragic.  But if I am being honest, I never wear a life jacket on my boat.  

If I was without another adult in the boat I would wear one. With a group on a pontoon, no way. 

 

[captain_amazing]

Wear one all the time.  Kayaking too.  Wife and I have nice looking ones, so they don't look ridiculous and fit really well.  

 

[Dan Lambskin]

Never even crossed my mind to wear one while boating 

 

[TheWalkmen]

Thoughts & prayers.

 

[Jobber]

I wear one every time no matter what. If I'm going to die, it'll be in a hail of gunfire or f***ing. Not in a ### #### lake.

 

[ILUVBEER99]

If you can swim wearing a lifejacket while in the boat is similar to wearing a helmet while crossing the road.  sure it may save a couple lives a year but pretty pointless.

There is no comparison with wearing a seatbelt.  Getting in a car crash is far far more likely than getting into a boat crash.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

My deepest condolences to the friends and family of the victim.  Such a terrible tragedy. Props to the OP for reminding us all how forgetting to doing something so simple and easy can have terrible consequences.  

 

[Andy Dufresne]

If you can swim wearing a lifejacket while in the boat is similar to wearing a helmet while crossing the road.  sure it may save a couple lives a year but pretty pointless.

There is no comparison with wearing a seatbelt.  Getting in a car crash is far far more likely than getting into a boat crash.

Yes and no.

If you've been drinking, all bets are off.

And if you're wearing clothes, not a swimsuit, it's much harder to swim. 

 

[ILUVBEER99]

Yes and no.

If you've been drinking, all bets are off.

And if you're wearing clothes, not a swimsuit, it's much harder to swim. 

guess a lot depends on how strong a swimmer someone is.  If someone can't swim well then agree that they should be wearing a lifejacket.

 

[captain_amazing]

If you can swim wearing a lifejacket while in the boat is similar to wearing a helmet while crossing the road.  sure it may save a couple lives a year but pretty pointless.

There is no comparison with wearing a seatbelt.  Getting in a car crash is far far more likely than getting into a boat crash.

Hope you don't pass out in water.

 

[ILUVBEER99]

Hope you don't pass out in water.

that's different.  if someone is blackout drunk they shouldn't be on a boat in the first place.  

 

[captain_amazing]

that's different.  if someone is blackout drunk they shouldn't be on a boat in the first place.  

I think there are a lot of unexpected situations where being a strong swimmer simply won't be sufficient.  But to each there own.

 

[ILUVBEER99]

I think there are a lot of unexpected situations where being a strong swimmer simply won't be sufficient.  But to each there own.

There are tradeoffs to everything.  Wearing a helmet walking around New York would save lives, but is it really worth it.

 

[jvdesigns2002]

that's different.  if someone is blackout drunk they shouldn't be on a boat in the first place.  

There are plenty of situations where even a strong swimmer could be saved by wearing a life jacket.   You could get injured before falling in the water which could impede your ability to swim.  You could be falling into very cold water where the shock of the temperature could cause difficulty.  While these things might not be probable--they are certainly possible enough to warrant wearing one--but that's just my opinion.  

 

[ILUVBEER99]

There are plenty of situations where even a strong swimmer could be saved by wearing a life jacket.   You could get injured before falling in the water which could impede your ability to swim.  You could be falling into very cold water where the shock of the temperature could cause difficulty.  While these things might not be probable--they are certainly possible enough to warrant wearing one--but that's just my opinion.  

you're right, but i guess when weighing risks just don't think wearing a lifejacket in a boat is worth it.  In the cold water example it makes sense, but during regular boating on a nice day just don't see the point.  The added safety of wearing a lifejacket in that situation is so minuscule where i don't see the need.

Granted i boat on low traffic small lakes where the shore is close.  In a large high traffic lake it's completely different.

 

[culdeus]

The self inflating life jackets are hardly noticeable.  Wear it every time I'm in the boat. There's been many times I've gone into the house still wearing it without even noticing. 

tell me more about this.  what brand you use

 

[NutterButter]

There are tradeoffs to everything.  Wearing a helmet walking around New York would save lives, but is it really worth it.

This is what you need

 

[boots11234]

tell me more about this.  what brand you use

thanks for asking , I useThese  .  Fantastic. Can't even tell I have it on. It's also designed to roll your body over if you get knocked unconscious in the water. So you won't drown if you are face down in the water unconscious.  Its about as wide as a pack of smokes and more importantly it does not rest against the back of your neck so it doesn't rub and adgitate the skin. 

The other main problem with life jackets is they are hot.  Not this one.  It does not make you feel hot because it's so small.  Be smart wear this and live while on the water.  

The only thing is you have to follow manufactures recommendations on replacing co2 cartridge and bobbin. 

 

[ILUVBEER99]

thanks for asking , I useThese  .  Fantastic. Can't even tell I have it on. It's also designed to roll your body over if you get knocked unconscious in the water. So you won't drown if you are face down in the water unconscious.  Its about as wide as a pack of smokes and more importantly it does not rest against the back of your neck so it doesn't rub and adgitate the skin. 

The other main problem with life jackets is they are hot.  Not this one.  It does not make you feel hot because it's so small.  Be smart wear this and live while on the water.  

The only thing is you have to follow manufactures recommendations on replacing co2 cartridge and bobbin. 

If you're on a pontoon boat hanging out are you seriously gonna wear that?  I'm all for safety, but there comes a point where it's overkill.

 

[brun]

There are plenty of situations where even a strong swimmer could be saved by wearing a life jacket.   You could get injured before falling in the water which could impede your ability to swim.  You could be falling into very cold water where the shock of the temperature could cause difficulty.  While these things might not be probable--they are certainly possible enough to warrant wearing one--but that's just my opinion.  

So true.

Years ago I worked with a guy who died (along with his fiance's 10 yr old son) while fishing from a canoe. It appeared that they were still on the water as it was getting dark (2nd mistake; on the water in the dark w/no lights) and got run over by a bigger, motorized boat. IIRC the owner/operator was never caught.

A while back I used to paddle and belonged to a club. I remember hearing about someone from the club who was alone in a canoe on a lake w/o a PFD. His boat somehow flipped and he broke his leg because he had hooked it under the seat while he was fishing, taking pictures or whatever. He was no longer an effective swimmer, but lucky that other boaters on the lake eventually saw him holding onto the boat.

Even if I was just on flat water practicing, I always wore my PFD.

I also always wore a PFD to waterski and so did anyone else I knew.

TBH, I'm not sure I would have thought to wear a PFD while on a pontoon boat.

 

[eoMMan]

OP's story is tragic.  But if I am being honest, I never wear a life jacket on my boat.  

I think what's more important is:

1. Know how to swim if you are being near water.

2. Don't be drunk on boat.

3. Make sure the driver of the boat isn't drunk and is driving the boat in a safe manner. The holiday weekends are the most probable time boating fatalities. 

 

[GroveDiesel]

If you can swim wearing a lifejacket while in the boat is similar to wearing a helmet while crossing the road.  sure it may save a couple lives a year but pretty pointless.

There is no comparison with wearing a seatbelt.  Getting in a car crash is far far more likely than getting into a boat crash.

Seems like wearing a life jacket while on the water is much more similar to wearing a helmet while riding a bike than wearing one while walking.

 

[AAABatteries]

Seems like wearing a life jacket while on the water is much more similar to wearing a helmet while riding a bike than wearing one while walking.

Agree but I always wear a helmet riding but I don't wear a life jacket.   I rarely go out of boats but don't really think about it when I do.  Growing up I would go crabbing with my uncle and I don't recal him even having life jackets much less wearing them.

 

[shadrap]

I know wearing a life jacket is a pain, but consider this...

My cousin's fiance drowned last Saturday night after falling off his pontoon. They didn't find him until yesterday morning. He was with friends and had dropped everyone off at their cabin and was returning to his on the opposite side of the lake. They had probably had a few drinks but there's no indication yet if he was intoxicated. They'll likely never know exactly what happened.

So, at least throw a life jacket on when you're by yourself.

T&Ps aren't necessary as I didn't really know the guy. I'm just making this PSA so that you'll stay safe out there over the holiday weekend.

Lake Metegoshe(sp?)  ??

 

[Andy Dufresne]

A belt w/inflatable jacket.

Wrist band w/inflatable

Seem like decent options.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Lake Metegoshe(sp?)  ??

Yes. That was him. :(

 

[shadrap]

Yes. That was him. :(

2 or 3 guys dead in ND in the last few weeks in water mishaps.  None with a life jacket on.  Tragic. 

 

[Dedfin]

Sorry to hear about your friend, AD.

I must claim ignorance on this.  Does it matter what size boat?  Surely it does, no one wears a lifejacket on a ocean liner, so where is the line?  Does it matter how good of a swimmer you are? (does Michael Phelps need to wear a lifejacket?)  Does it matter what kind of water?  I've been paddling in AR rivers, and never used a lifejacket.  Should I have?

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Sorry to hear about your friend, AD.

I must claim ignorance on this.  Does it matter what size boat?  Surely it does, no one wears a lifejacket on a ocean liner, so where is the line?  Does it matter how good of a swimmer you are? (does Michael Phelps need to wear a lifejacket?)  Does it matter what kind of water?  I've been paddling in AR rivers, and never used a lifejacket.  Should I have?

You might want to think about it. Like irishidiot mentioned, they're looking in the Missouri River in ND for a guy that fell off his personal watercraft.

That wrist gadget I linked looks like a good option. Only problem is if you're incapacitated and can't deploy it.

Honestly, if I'm with others in a pontoon I'm likely not wearing a life jacket. By myself? For sure. Especially since I'm a poor swimmer.

 

[Jobber]

2 or 3 guys dead in ND in the last few weeks in water mishaps.  None with a life jacket on.  Tragic. 

But at least they weren't walking in NYC.

 

[bigbottom]

Honestly, I never wear a life jacket on my ski boat but we are in a very low traffic lake with virtually no natural hazards. And I never boat alone. I do have several rules, however (some of which are legal requirements).

1) There are life jackets of appropriate size stowed on board for every single person on the boat. 

2) Kids wear life jackets at all times while on the boat. 

3) All skiers, wakeboarders, tubers (adults and kids) wear life jackets during activity. 

4) Moderate drinking is permitted, but drunkenness is prohibited. 

5) I drive the boat and never drink. Not a single drop.  My drinking starts when the sun goes down and the boat is in the dock. 

6) Helmets are strongly encouraged for wakeboarding and mandatory for wakeskating. (My son is required to wear a helmet.)

 

[Galileo]

Sorry to hear about your friend, AD.

I must claim ignorance on this.  Does it matter what size boat?  Surely it does, no one wears a lifejacket on a ocean liner, so where is the line?  Does it matter how good of a swimmer you are? (does Michael Phelps need to wear a lifejacket?)  Does it matter what kind of water?  I've been paddling in AR rivers, and never used a lifejacket.  Should I have?

Absolutely, several details could factor into the decision.  I grew up on Lake Erie.  We had a 41' boat.  As young kids, we never wore life jackets unless we were riding on the bow of the boat.  Otherwise, it was like riding in a RV.  Unless you are doing something incredibly stupid, you weren't going to fall out.  I now own an 18' boat.    I am a decent swimmer.  I don't drink when using the boat.  I use it primarily on a small lake where weather is a non issue (Lake Erie is a different story with a small boat).  Short of ramming another boat or driving into the shoreline, which doesn't seem likely if sober and sane, I do not see a need for a life jacket.

My situation is very much like BigBottom's list above.  Our lake rules require kids under 12 to wear a life jacket which is fine.  I enforce that, but I personally do not wear one.