October 23, 2008

Russian Roulette

Not wearing a life jacket is like playing “Russian Roulette” with your life.

I'm still amazed by how many people still don't wear lifejackets when on the water. I just read how last weekend the Coast Guard and other rescuers searched the waters about 100 feet from a breakwater in southern California for a man who fell overboard from a small boat. The man was not wearing a lifejacket. Unfortunately stories like this are not that uncommon, boaters and their passengers unexpectedly find themselves in the water all too often. Some survive and unfortunately some do not. This man did not survive. Not wearing a life jacket while boating is like playing “Russian Roulette.”

That's why all Coast Guard personnel are required to wear lifejackets at all times when on vessels under 65' and why all of us at RIBCRAFT always wear lifejackets whenever out sea trialing a RIB. Though we can all swim, not wearing a lifejacket is just an unnecessary risk that we will not take. Chances are if you do go overboard, it will be unexpected, it won't be calm, you might panic, or perhaps you'll be injured and won't be able to manage on your own.

Being in the marine industry and around the water my entire life, I've heard all the excuses for not wearing a life jacket – "I can swim", “they're uncomfortable”, or "too expensive". As I've written in a previous posting, life jackets come in many shapes, sizes, and prices. Many are extremely comfortable and prices can range from as low as $15.00 to about $400.00 for the top of the line inflatable. But, even the most expensive life jacket is of no value if it is not worn.

Too often in our own harbor we see people not wearing life jackets and what's most shocking is most of the marine professionals in our waters, even those who are there to rescue us if something bad happens, aren't wearing lifejackets either.

It's a simple thing that really works. As I've said before, you wouldn't get in your car without buckling your seatbelt, so why get on a boat without a lifejacket?

Posted by ribcraftusa at October 23, 2008 12:23 PM