COLUMBUS, OH - The start of Ohio’s recreational boating season is just weeks away and state watercraft officials already have a heightened sense of concern about early season boating safety as a result of three recent boating fatalities at state park lakes.
“As the weather warms up this month, we encourage boaters to take some time to review Ohio’s boating rules, give their vessel a thorough safety inspection and prepare for the risks of early season boating before they head out on our state’s waterways,” said Ken Alvey, chief of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft.
The leading causes of boating-related fatalities in Ohio include individuals falling overboard and boats capsizing. In the three fatalities Ohio has seen this year, the victims were not wearing a life jacket.
On April 8, two Celina teenagers drowned after their small fishing boat capsized on Grand Lake St. Mary’s in western Ohio. The most recent boating fatality occurred on May 1 when a 24-year old Lancaster man drowned after his boat capsized on Buckeye Lake, just east of Columbus.
Ohio joins with other states in observance of National Safe Boating Week, May 21-27, to help increase public awareness about the importance of wearing a life jacket when boating. Approximately 85 percent of all boating-related fatality victims in the country were not wearing a life jacket when their accident occurred, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Watercraft officers with ODNR and their statewide boating partners will be conducting free vessel safety checks at public boat ramps, providing boating safety education courses and distributing boating safety information during the week-long observance.
In addition to properly wearing an approved life jacket, boaters are encouraged to enjoy safe boating by observing these safety tips:
- Get a free boat safety inspection
- Take a boating education course
- Avoid alcohol consumption while boating
- Keep a proper lookout and always stay alert while boating
- Pay attention to “rules of the road” during all boating activities
- Do not extend beyond your boating skills
- Observe the safety and well being of all boat passengers
- Be prepared for an emergency and to render assistance if needed
The Division of Watercraft actively promotes safe boating practices throughout the recreational boating season with campaigns such as Operation Overboard and patrols during National Safe Boating Week.