Jay Lloyd's Getaway: Boat Safe Getaway
By Jay Lloyd
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- If the weather cooperates, many of us will spend part of the long holiday weekend on area waters. But KYW's Jay Lloyd has an annual reminder.
We'll be sunning and sailing, cruising and paddling from off-shore waters to mountain lakes. But one Coast Guard veteran buddy talking about a rescue of boaters in the water and one going down, made a chilling observation.
"She had no life jacket on. None of them did."
The Coast Guard reports that 629 people died last year in boating accidents on American waters. Of those who drowned, 85 percent were not wearing life jackets. Thousands of others were injured and the fatality numbers have been climbing.
Ironically most boats do have the required number of life jackets on-board, but many boaters simply ignore them. Most states and Coast Guard regulations require children to wear them, but not adults.
When collisions or capsizings occur, it's usually too late. You're already in the drink.
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