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BOATING
SAFETY - MAKE YOUR CHILDREN WEAR THEIR LIFE JACKETS |
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| WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard reminds parents that their
children should always wear a life jacket while boating. |
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| "National SAFE KIDS Week is a perfect time to remember the
importance of life jackets," said the Coast Guard's Director of
Operations Policy, Rear Admiral J.W. Underwood. "It is the
parent's responsibility to keep their children safe when on the water
and insisting on wearing life jackets is one of the best ways to do
that. |
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*Just like you
make your kids wear bike helmets, make them wear life jackets.* |
| Many adults believe themselves capable of diving into the water to
rescue a child who falls overboard. This is a dangerous
misconception. Adults may not notice a child falling overboard
right away. Children who fall in may not surface immediately.
It can be difficult to locate a child in the water - especially when the
vessel is in motion. |
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Life jackets
could prevent approximately two-thirds of all boating-related drownings
of children ages 14 and under. In fact, in most states, children
under 13 must wear life jackets. It's the law! |
| According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, drowning remains
second only to motor vehicle accidents as the leading cause of
unintentional injury-related death among children ages 1 to 14.
Furthermore, children are much more likely to practice safe habits when
they experience similar behavior by parents and caregivers. "We
have done research that indicates children whose parents wear life
jackets around water are more likely to wear one themselves," says Jen
Medearis Costello, program manager at the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.
"Therefore we recommend that parents not only actively supervise their
children around water, but also demonstrate safe behavior--including
wearing life jackets." |
| The Coat Guard and National SAFE KIDS Campaign strongly recommend
adults always wear life jackets as well - not only to keep themselves
safe, but to demonstrate safe behavior for their children. |
