Five Boating Tips that Can Save Your Life
With temperatures soaring and cool waters beckoning in PA and NJ, summer is a popular time for boating. It’s also time for a refresher on safety. While boating is a fun summer activity, it can turn dangerous in an instant. Whether you're captaining a pontoon, paddling a kayak, or riding a personal watercraft, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is urging you to prioritize safety this summer.
5 Tips That Could Save Your Life:
Too often, accidents occur not from mechanical failure or foul play—but from lapses in judgment and preparation.
- Always wear a life jacket. It’s the single most effective way to prevent drowning. Each year, about 80% of people who die in boating accidents are not wearing life jackets.
- Never boat under the influence. Alcohol and water don’t mix—and impairment can affect balance, judgment, and reaction time.
- Have a float plan. Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
- Check the weather. Sudden storms can spell disaster—especially for smaller crafts.
- Take a boating safety course. The PFBC offers education classes that teach skills and rules every boater should know.
In 2024, Pennsylvania recorded 59 recreational boating accidents that resulted in 10 fatalities. The numbers are sobering, but they also tell a story—and one with preventable chapters. Additionally, an article in Go Erie highlighted several tragic incidents in PA this past year where a life jacket might have made the difference:
- A 10-year-old boy died after his kayak capsized on Yellow Breeches Creek.
- A 44-year-old man fell overboard into cold water from his anchored kayak on the Susquehanna River. He wore a manual inflatable life jacket—but it wasn’t activated.
- A 45-year-old man drowned after falling from his 16-foot open motorboat into fast-moving water on the Juniata River.
- A 37-year-old woman fell overboard from a 13-foot motorboat on the Susquehanna River.
- A 36-year-old man became tangled in an anchor line when his 14-foot canoe swamped on Shermans Creek.
- A 41-year-old man did not survive when his kayak capsized on the Schuylkill River.
- A 39-year-old man died while water skiing on the Monongahela River. He wore a wetsuit but no life jacket.
- A 16-year-old boy drowned in Hammond Lake after falling from his kayak while fishing.
- A 39-year-old man tried to swim to shore on the Susquehanna River after his boat ran out of fuel.
Even when you are prepared, accidents do happen. However, if an accident has occurred due to a malfunctioning product or operator negligence, you may need a top Philadelphia attorney for boating accidents. Please contact us to set a time to discuss your legal options.