Life Jackets

Not long ago, I had the opportunity to try paddle boarding. Well, about 10 feet later I, of course, fell off to the great amusement of my friends who were on hand to witness my latest nautical milestone. After a lot of laughter, I swam the 25’ over to the board with no life jacket on. My thought at the time was that I didn’t need a life jacket. But hindsight being 20-20, I thought about how this could have ended quite differently if my friends had not been standing by and, for example, if I had hit my head on the board. Moreover, it made me start observing other individuals on the water. I have seen paddleboarders, canoeists, and kayakers on our waterways not wearing any type of flotation device. After seeing this month's “WEAR IT” campaign from the boating coalition started by the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron, USCG Auxiliary, and several other boating groups in our area, I started to re-think my own attitude and how irresponsible it was not to have been wearing a lifesaving device in what can be a dangerous or even deadly environment. But is it really an issue? Wearing a PFD while on a paddle-type boat, kayak, or canoe?

So, as always, knowing there are sources out there smarter than me, I contacted Don Rice at our local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary building down at Caxambas Park. Don serves as the national staff branch assistant and also teaches a Paddle Sports safety class. What Don told me frankly blew me away. According to the United States Coast Guard, nearly 40% of boaters in the United States are paddlers. In 2022, there were 9,199 million canoeing, 13,351 million recreational kayaking, 2,587 million sea kayaking, 2,623 million white water kayaking, and 3,739 paddle-boarders. Now for the grim statistics. In 2022, drowning was the most common cause of fatalities. In 2022, there were 46 canoeists who died, 38 by drowning. That’s 83% of the victims who would not have died if they were wearing a flotation device. Kayakers had 86 deaths in 2022, 80 by drowning - that’s 93% who could have survived. And for paddle boarders there were 17 deaths in 2022, 16 by drowning - that’s 94%. 

Don had two suggestions, and the American Canoe Association agrees, that everyone on a paddle board should have their paddle board attached to themselves with a paddle board leash. And everyone canoeing, kayaking, and paddle boarding should wear a self-inflating and CO2 inflatable flotation device. 

As I mentioned, Don teaches a paddle board sports safety class at the Coast Guard Auxiliary building at Caxambas Park. Don will be doing more classes in the fall, and he can be reached at deice@playpen.com. I highly recommend you take one and look into all of the other classes that the USCG Auxiliary offers.

Looking for a bit more information, I gave Nanette Rivera a call. Nanette is the Commander of the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron and has some good points, too. I didn’t realize that Florida has more boats registered, over a million, than any other state. Plus, it is projected that there are at least a million other unregistered watercraft, kayaks, canoes, paddle boards etc. Unfortunately, Florida leads the country in boating fatalities. In 2023, there were 659 reported boating accidents in Florida, 59 of which involved fatalities. 50% of those fatalities were by drowning, again something that can be prevented by wearing an inflatable flotation device. Commander Rivera had a couple of good suggestions. First, wear an inflatable flotation device in all watercraft. In 2022, 23.5% of the 636 fatalities nationwide, 149 deaths involved open motorboats. Secondly, take a formal boating course or, even better, multiple courses. 83% of the boat accidents in 2023 showed the boat operators had received no training. To access a complete list of classes and class schedules put on by the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron, plus training videos to view, go to Marcoboatingclub.org.

My wife Kathie and I now own two inflatable flotation devices (PFDs), or what I like to call horse collars. They are comfortable, inexpensive, and quite frankly, make us feel just safer on the water. Please consider making yourselves, your family and friends safer by suggesting everyone wear an inflatable flotation device and lead by example. Seriously consider taking some classes, too. Like they say, “Safe boating is no accident.”

Capt. Geoff Fahringer is a fifty-year career law enforcement officer. His experience includes SWAT Team and Dive Team service with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office and detective in major crimes vice/narcotics and the organized crime and criminal intelligence homeland security division. Other training experience includes first aid and dive training for law enforcement and fire departments throughout Southwest Florida. Capt. Geoff has a USCG Captains Licence, is the 2024 president of the Marco Island Area Association of Realtors, the training and safety officer for the Marco Island Yacht Club and the safety officer for the Marco Island Power Squadron. He can be reached at Gfahringer@yahoo.com.