West
Trenton, NJ - It happens almost every year.
The first spell of warm weather after a
long winter brings intrepid boaters back
out onto the frigid waters. And sometimes
those adventurous souls pay for their enthusiasm
with their lives. This year, March saw five
fatal boating accidents in New Jersey.
On
Monday, March 15th, a 58-year-old man and
his adult son were canoeing on the Delaware
River in Hunterdon County when the boat
overturned in rough water. Neither man was
wearing a life jacket, but the 24-year-old
son was able to make it to shore with assistance
from a bystander on the riverbank. His father
has not yet been found.
Later
that same day, two men were paddling in
an aluminum rowboat when it capsized in
the Tuckahoe River. A 25-year-old man drowned
when he could not swim in the cold water.
On
Friday, March 19th, a man working was working
on his boat at his Egg Harbor Township marina
when an explosion blew him into the water
and he never surfaced.
On
Saturday, March 27th, the captain of a commercial
fishing boat was found in the water near
his boat at the Atlantic Cape Fisheries
dock in Lower Township. He may have slipped
and fell into the water, which led to his
drowning.
Later
that morning, four people in a canoe overturned
in the Manasquan River in Point Pleasant.
Three were able to swim to shore, but one
drowned and was later located by troopers
using side scan sonar. He was recovered
about 25 feet from shore.
Unfortunately, events like some of these
are not unusual during this time of year.
The off-season months are very dangerous
for boaters because of the increased speed
at which hypothermia sets in when mishaps
occur. Four times as many boating accidents
result in a fatality when the water temperature
is 39 F or colder.
Early
this month there was ice on the Delaware
River with water temps in the 30s. Even
after the recent warming temperatures, the
river is currently only in the mid-40s in
the Trenton area. The Atlantic Ocean is
only in the mid to upper 40s, and deeper
lakes in the state are about the same.
Capsizing
and falls overboard are the most common
types of fatal boating accidents, and boaters
hitting that frigid water quickly find their
strength sapped and their movements slowed
down. The human body cools down 25 times
faster in cold water than in cold air. Within
minutes of being in the water, people can
lose manual dexterity, muscle coordination
and breath control. Even strong swimmers
can become drowning victims without the
aid of a personal floatation device (PFD).
Statistics
from 2008 show that of the 510 individuals
who drowned in boating accidents, 459 were
not wearing a PFD, otherwise known as a
life jacket. The best defense against drowning
is to always wear a properly fitted, United
States Coast Guard approved, personal floatation
device while boating or taking part in activities
on and around the water. This is especially
true when boating in cold water.
Misconceptions
There are many misconceptions about boating
accidents. Chief among them is the thought
that a vessel must be traveling at a high
rate of speed for a serious accident to
occur. While speed is certainly a factor
in many vessel accidents, a large number
of accidents occur on vessels that do not
even have an engine. Nationwide in 2008,
there were 157 reported deaths to operators
and passengers of canoes, kayaks, and row-boats.
During the same year, there were 45 reported
deaths to operators and passengers of personal
watercraft (jet-ski-type craft). It should
be noted that in most venues (including
New Jersey), personal watercraft operators
and passengers are required to wear PFDs.
Another
common misconception is that in cold water,
hypothermia will kill a person quickly,
regardless of whether the person is wearing
a PFD. While hypothermia is a serious threat
to life, most people would survive sudden
immersion into cold water, and ultimately
be rescued, if they were wearing a properly
fitted US Coast Guard approved PFD when
the accident occurred.
Be
aware of the “Involuntary Gasp Reflex”
When a person is suddenly immersed in cold
water, they will experience an “Involuntary
Gasp Reflex” during which the person
will immediately exhale, this will be followed
immediately by an uncontrollable “gasping”
for air. As this occurs the person will
generally panic, and, lacking a floatation
aid, may begin to involuntarily “breath”
water and drown. In many cases, drowning
occurs
long before the effects of hypothermia are
experienced. Again, the best defense is
to wear a PFD. While the PFD will not eliminate
the gasp reflex, or the associated discomfort,
the PFD will immediately float the person
to the surface, thus allowing the person
to be rescued. Some PFDs will even turn
an unconscious wearer face-up, allowing
badly injured or exhausted individuals to
be rescued.
Boating
Safety initiatives
New Jersey is an active member-State in
the Northern Association of Boating Administrators
(NABA). All of our neighboring states, including
New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware are
active participants. NABA is encouraging
all northern states to enact legislation
that would require mandatory PFD wear during
the cold-weather months. Many believe that
if these proposals were enacted, the number
of boating fatalities would be reduced substantially.
Currently
in New Jersey, individuals who are under
13 years of age, individuals who are waterskiing,
and operators and passengers aboard personal
watercraft are required to wear a PFD, regardless
of the season.
Boating
Safety Tips
Always wear a life
jacket. Life jackets are an essential component
to safe boating. There are many styles of
life jackets available for a multitude of
purposes including both extreme heat and
cold.
Life
Jackets Must Be:
-
US Coast Guard approved
- In
good and serviceable condition
- The
appropriate size for the intended user.
- Wearable
lifejackets must be readily accessible.
- You
must be able to put them on in a reasonable
amount of time in an emergency (vessel
sinking, on fire, etc.).
- They
should not be stowed in plastic bags,
in locked or closed compartments or have
other gear stowed on top of them.
- The
best lifejacket is the one you will wear.
- Throwable
devices must be immediately available
for use
Prepare
properly
-
Place your mobile phone in a waterproof
plastic bag and keep it on your person.
- Leave
a “Float Plan” with a close
friend or relative. A blank float plan
can be found on page 45 of the New Jersey
boating Safety manual. The boating safety
manual is available on the Marine Services
Bureau web-site at www.njsp.org/maritime.
-
Check the weather forecast
- Speak
with locals to learn about local boating
hazards
- Bring
charts and maps of the area
- Check
all safety equipment including VHF radios,
GPS devices, emergency locator beacons
and flares
- Pack
a first aid kit robust enough for significant
injuries that could occur while boating/hunting/fishing.
- Pack
food and water, even for a short trip.
- Make
sure your boat’s drain plug is in
place
Dress
to protect against hypothermia
Water temperature
below 90 degrees is considered cold enough
to cause hypothermia. Body heat is lost
25 times faster in water than in air of
the same temperature. Dress in layers that
will trap body heat even when wet. Wool
and Polypropylene are good materials for
such conditions. Avoid cotton fabrics.
Follow
all boating regulations
This includes having a wearable, Coast Guard-approved
PFD for each person on board. Vessels that
are 16’ in length or greater must
also carry at least one type IV (throwable)
PFD. Check the capacity plate of the vessel
and be certain not to overload or overpower
the vessel.
If
you should find yourself in the water
Relax and stay with the boat. If your vessel
has capsized, try to climb out of the water
and on top of your capsized boat to await
rescue. Do not worry about trying to salvage
gear. Anything that falls overboard is worthless
compared to the value of your life.
Additional
Maritime Information
For more information
about New Jersey boating laws and regulations,
please visit the New Jersey State Police,
Marine Services Bureau website at: www.njsp.org/maritime.
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