Importance of Life Jackets
At the National Safe Boating Council, we believe wearing a life jacket is the simplest way to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones while enjoying a day on the water.
It’s tempting to not wear a life jacket while on the water, especially on nice days. You want to get some sun, you think you’ll get too hot, or you think you’re a strong swimmer. But whether you’re going fishing or just enjoying a ride on the boat, there’s never an excuse to not wear a life jacket. Accidents happen in an instant. Make it a habit. Always wear a life jacket.
According to recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics:
Drowning was the reported cause of the death in 80 percent of all boating fatalities in 2016
(four out of every five people drowned)
Of those, 83 percent were reported as not wearing their life jackets
Two-thirds of drowning victims are good swimmers