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Boating Accidents
at a Glance
Report By
U.S. COAST GUARD
The Coast Guard received reports for a total of 8,047 recreational boating accidents
in 1997; the most ever reported. The casualty data for 1997 showed 821 fatalities
and a record high number of 4,555 injuries.
Life Jackets & Risk of Dying in an Accident
Five hundred and eighty-eight (588) boaters drowned in 1997. Life jackets could have
saved the lives of approximately 523 boaters who drowned. In 1997, approximately
eight out of every 10 victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
Boaters continue to be at a greater risk of dying when involved in an accident during
the fall and winter months than in the summer. Besides the colder weather and water,
there are fewer boaters and patrol officers in the area to rescue boaters in distress.
When waters are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, hypothermia can set in quickly. Sportsmen
who hunt and fish from boats, especially in colder weather, need to dress for possible
immersion and wear their life jackets. Boaters in larger bodies of water should also
take advantage of using available distress alerting and position indicating technologies
to improve their chances of survival if a mishap occurs.
Fatalities by Known Boat Length and Owner Status
Eighty-two (82) percent of fatalities occurred on boats less than 26 feet in
length. Seventy-one (71) percent of those victims drowned. Specifically, 385 fatalities
occurred on boats less than 16 feet in length and 294 occurred on boats 16 to less
than 26 feet in length. Forty (40) percent of all boats in reported accidents were
operated by individuals who were not the owners of the boat.
Alcohol Involvement in Boating Accidents
Alcohol involvement in reported accidents accounted for 27 percent of all boating
fatalities. A Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol
concentration above .10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely
to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.
Fatalities by Known Boat Operator Education
Eighty-six (86) percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator
had not completed a boating safety education course.
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