By Emory Smith
As we move towards our spring and summer holiday seasons and especially our long Memorial Day and July 4th long weekends, let’s take a look at one of the more common and very dangerous combinations we face on the water. Alcohol and Boating…
As more states adopt strict operating-under-the-influence (OUI) laws that mirror stepped-up alcohol enforcement on the roads, boaters are coming under increasing scrutiny. Venturing out on the water after drinking, even after moderate social drinking, can be very hazardous.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol is a major factor in as much as 50% of all recreational boating fatalities.
The Coast Guard says a boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration above .10% – the legal threshold in 38 states – is 10 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than a boater with zero BAC.
No matter what the activity, alcohol affects balance, vision, coordination and judgement. But in boating, stressors like wind, sun, noise, motion, and vibration can magnify the effects of alcohol and even accelerate impairment.
Most boaters think of collisions as the greatest threat when drinking on the water. Yet, according to BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety research, an estimated 75% of alcohol-related boating accidents and injuries do not involve collisions. In fact, falls on board or overboard, or missteps at the dock or getting into the dinghy, are a much greater threat when drinking afloat.
So, remember, in the end, as Sherrie says, “Safe Boating is no accident!”
If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net
Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Norma Hill at njhill@ballstate.bsu.edu.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.