Statistics show the answer to that question is 8 of every 10 of the approximately 700 people who die each year, on average, in boating-related accidents. Granted, most tournament anglers are required to wear life jackets. The problems arise, though, among those who take to the water for a day of fun, be they anglers, skiers, etc.
As the story goes, the crash occurred when two men in one boat were motoring down the lake in a bass boat in open water. Another man began to speed up in his boat about the same time the bass boat was passing him.
Sources said all three men were alive and holding onto the bass boat directly after the crash. By the time authorities arrived on the scene, though, one man was deceased and another presumably had succumbed to hypothermia and sunk. Divers later recovered his body. An angler fishing nearby heard the crash and went to help the lone survivor.
In an effort to combat these statistics, the National Safe Boating Council, in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, conduct an annual North American Safe Boating Campaign. The week-long celebration this year is May 20-26. The lifesaving message for this year's campaign is Boat Smart, Boat Safe, Wear It.
As part of the campaign, officials are urging everyone with inflatable life jackets to perform periodic maintenance on them to avoid such life-threatening problems as bladder leaks, fabric degradation, and improperly installed CO2 cyclinders.
Manufacturers of inflatable equipment likely will have different maintenance instructions for their products and directions for the user to service and inspect the devices. Knowing and following these instructions are critical. Proper maintenance service and inspection will ensure all parts of the life jacket, including the bladder, inflation mechanism, and CO2 cylinder are checked and in good working order.
Each voyage, prior to getting underway:
* If there is a service indicator, check to ensure it is GREEN. If the indicator is RED, the mechanism has been fired, or it is incorrectly fitted.
* Check for visible signs of wear or damage by ensuring there are no rips, tears or holes; that the seams are securely sewn; and that the fabric, straps and hardware are still strong.
* For auto-inflating life jackets, ensure all auto components are armed and not expired. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for revealing the inflation system and oral-inflation tube. Check that the CO2 cylinder is firmly secured. Examine it for rust or corrosion. If you remove the CO2 cylinder for inspection, be sure to carefully replace it without over-tightening.
* Repack the life jacket as per manufacturer's instructions. Ensure the pull-tab lanyard is accessible and unlikely to be caught when being worn.
Periodic checks as recommended by the manufacturer or when in doubt:
* Inflate the bladder using the oral tube and leave it overnight in a room with a constant temperature. If the bladder loses pressure, take the life jacket to an authorized service center for further tests. Do not attempt to repair a life jacket yourself. If there is no obvious loss of pressure, deflate the life jacket by turning the cap of the inflation tube upside down and pressing it into the inflation tube. Gently squeeze the inflatable life jacket until all air has been expelled. To avoid damage, do not wring or twist the life jacket.
* Repack the life jacket as per manufacturer's instructions. Ensure the pull-tab lanyard is accessible and unlikely to be inadvertently snagged when being worn.
Store your life jacket in a dry, well-ventilated location away from dampness and out of direct sunlight. It's important to rinse your life jacket with freshwater after saltwater exposure and dry it thoroughly prior to storage. If your life jacket is set for auto-inflation, remove the auto-inflation cartridge prior to rinsing. The life jacket manufacturer may have specific requirements, so read the instructions on the life jacket.
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