Amid boating deaths, 6 water safety tips to prevent tragedy, with alcohol being a leading factor.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, hundreds of lives are lost annually on U.S. waterways due to preventable recreational boating accidents.

In the summer of 2020, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 564 boating deaths and 2,126 non-fatal injuries, with the highest number of fatalities occurring in July and August.

The leading cause of death was found to be alcohol, with it contributing to 17% of all fatalities.

In 2023, 13% of all non-fatal boating injuries and property damage, totaling $63 million, were caused by intoxication.

Mike from Long Island, New York, who preferred to remain anonymous, explained to Planet Chronicle Digital why he never goes on a boat during weekends in the summer.

"It is likely that more individuals will be present on the water and consuming alcohol."

While spending time on the water with family and friends, he observed boaters driving recklessly and speeding with an alcoholic beverage in hand.

Deadly consequences

Boating under the influence is illegal and can have deadly consequences, just as with driving drunk on the road, water safety experts told Planet Chronicle Digital.

Boat operators and their passengers are at risk for accidents and fatalities due to alcohol's impairment of judgment, balance, coordination, and reaction time.

The Coast Guard's website states that vision can be affected, leading to decreased peripheral vision, reduced depth perception, decreased night vision, poor focus, and difficulty in distinguishing colors (particularly red and green).

The marine environment, motion, vibration, engine, noise, sun, wind, and spray can intensify the impairment caused by alcohol and drug use on water, according to Megan Ferraro, executive director of The ZAC Foundation, a water safety organization in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Drinking alcohol while on the water increases the chances of risky behaviors, including swimming under the influence, falling overboard, or capsizing the boat.

"It can also increase the risk of hypothermia in the water."

"Alcohol and drug use on the water can be more hazardous than on land."

Ferraro stated that combining drinking with boating or swimming is extremely dangerous, particularly among young adults.

According to her, between 30% and 70% of recreational water deaths among U.S. adolescents happen while swimming or boating while under the influence of alcohol.

An individual who consumed alcohol while operating a boat has a 10 times higher chance of dying in a boating accident compared to someone who did not drink, according to the Coast Guard.

Nearly a third of annual drownings in the U.S. can be attributed to alcohol consumption, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Dr. George F. Koob, PhD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), stated in a comment to Planet Chronicle Digital that many individuals view summer as an opportunity to engage in outdoor activities with loved ones.

"Sometimes these activities involve alcohol."

Summer festivities can be dampened by alcohol, as it increases the risk of sunburns and causes boating accidents and drownings, Koob warned.

The Coast Guard stated that boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal in every state.

Penalties can include fines, loss of boating privileges and even jail time.

6 tips for staying safe on the water

The Coast Guard report identified operator inattention, inexperience, improper lookout, excessive speed, and machinery failure as factors contributing to boating accidents, in addition to alcohol consumption.

Water safety experts and the U.S. Coast Guard website provided the following tips for safe boating.

1. Avoid alcoholic beverages

Experts agreed that designating a "sober captain" would ensure the safety of everyone on board and potentially others on the water.

Ferraro stated that this individual must abstain from consuming alcohol or drugs and maintain constant alertness and the ability to safely operate the vessel.

Koob advised against consuming alcohol while operating a boat, driving a car, exploring nature, or engaging in water sports.

Ferraro suggested that bringing along non-alcoholic beverages would help keep everyone refreshed and prevent passengers and the boat operator from consuming alcohol.

The safest way to enjoy the water is without alcohol, as intoxicated passengers are at risk of injury and falling overboard, according to the Coast Guard.

2. Remain vigilant

Boaters should remain vigilant on the water, as most incidents occur unexpectedly, in good visibility, calm waters, and little wind, according to Capt. Amy Beach, director of inspections and compliance at the U.S. Coast Guard, in a May 2024 news release.

A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above 0.10% is more than 10 times as likely to die in a boating accident.

Collisions with other vessels, objects, or groundings are the most common events, which is why it is crucial to maintain a proper lookout, navigate at a safe speed, follow navigation rules, and obey navigation aids.

3. Wear US Coast Guard-approved life jackets

According to the U.S. Coast Guard's website, life jackets could have saved the lives of over 80% of boating fatality victims.

The organization pointed out that accidents can happen quickly on the water, making it difficult to grab a life jacket that is stored away.

4. Perform a vessel safety check

This will ensure the boat is operating properly, the Coast Guard advised.

Ensure that passengers are aware of propeller hazard areas and account for passengers and children.

Passengers should not be permitted to ride where they can fall overboard.

Experts suggest childproofing the boat as you would at home if small children will be on board.

5. Ensure safe pickups

To begin the recovery process after someone falls overboard, the Coast Guard advises stopping the boat and ensuring the area is clear.

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The agency advises against using a boat to rescue someone from the water by reversing its direction.

Instead of keeping the person visible at all times and circling around going forward, the operator should keep the person visible and circle around.

6. Consider taking a boating safety course

The U.S. Coast Guard advises on its website that operators should take a boating safety course. Such courses are available nationwide through organizations including the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, and state boating agencies.

Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to the U.S. Coast Guard for comment.