Life jackets credited for more boaters surviving accidents in Pennsylvania
About 40% more boaters are surviving accidents in Pennsylvania since a winter life-jacket requirement was implemented 10 years ago.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's boating accident data reveals that while the number of boating accidents during the cold weather months has remained comparable over the past decade, fatalities have decreased from 58% in 2012 to 17% in 2022.
There were a record low number of boating accidents, 41, in the past year that resulted in nine fatalities across the state.
The agency started collecting accident data in 1988 and reporting it to the Coast Guard. “We are at an all-time low on record, ever. We’ve never seen 41 reported boating accidents in Pennsylvania ever before,” Laurel Anders, director of boating, said Monday during the agency’s Boating Committee meeting.
Ten years ago, the state averaged 106 accidents and about 15 fatalities each year. “Now our 10-year average is 60 accidents and 11 deaths,” she said about the downward trends. “There’s still room for improvements.”
There were 56 boating accidents that resulted in nine fatalities in 2021.
“Weather, water conditions, (boat) manufacturing improvements, awareness of laws and regulations, new regulations and safe operation requirements and pre-existing medical and health conditions can all have an impact on accidents and fatalities. The use of drugs and alcohol. These are all different influences,” Anders said.
“I know it’s unreasonable to expect that the number would go down to zero, but I know we’re headed in the right direction," said John Mahn, Fish and Boat Commission District 2 Commissioner and Boating Committee chairman.
Since 2012, all boaters on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe, kayak, or standup paddleboard have been required to wear a life jacket from Nov. 1 through April 30.
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While the majority of boating-related incidents occur during the spring and summer, when boating activity is highest in Pennsylvania, the greatest percentage of fatalities has historically occurred during the cold-weather months.
The agency explains cold water shock causes an involuntary gasp of water, hyperventilation, breathlessness and a reduced ability to control breathing and swim.
Don Anderson, commissioner in the District 4 in the southcentral region and a deputy waterways conservation officer, credits educational efforts for helping people to be safe. “I’m pleased to say people have all the equipment they need. That’s been a trend I’ve seen an improvement in over my 45 years of involvement. It’s better now in my home county (Somerset) than what it was years ago.”
In 2000, the agency started requiring all operators of personal watercraft like Jet Skis and Wave Runners to have a boating safety education certificate. Starting in 2003, the agency required all persons born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to have a boating education certificate if operating a boat that has at least 25 horsepower.
Tim Schaeffer, executive director of the agency, expressed his safety concerns as a mild winter is enabling boaters to go out on lakes that are normally frozen at this time of the year. “The water is still deadly cold, please continue to wear your life jacket,” he said.
“Life-jacket wearing works,” Anders said.
Brian Whipkey is the outdoors columnist for USA TODAY Network sites in Pennsylvania. Contact him at bwhipkey@gannett.com and sign up for our weekly Go Outdoors PA newsletter email on this website's homepage under your login name. Follow him on Facebook @whipkeyoutdoors.
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This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: PA Fish and Boat Commission credits life jackets for safety trend
