Maryland Water SafetyA look at some common hazards and tips for having a safe and fun experience.

www.TheInjuryLawyerMD.com

Maryland – The Perfect Place for Boating

Maryland’s beautiful waterways are perfect for boating and water-based activities. To make sure you and your passengers have the best experience, you’ll need to create the safest possible environment.

Let’s take a look at why boating safety is so important and what steps you can take to ensure the safety of your next boating adventure.

Common Boating MishapsBoating accidents can result from:

Intoxication of the operator

Operator recklessness or inexperience

Excessive speed

Collisions

Sinking

Machinery failure.

Drowning – By the Numbers According to the CDC, 10 people die from

unintentional drowning every day. 72% of boating deaths are due to drowning. 20% of the fatalities are age 14 or younger,

primarily in pools. 80% of drowning victims are male. African-Americans across all ages incur these

injuries at a much higher rate than whites: 3 times as high in the age range of 5-14, and 5.5 times higher in the age range of 5-19.

Common Causes of Drowning

Inability to swim Seizure disorder Alcohol use Failure to wear a life jacket Absence of Life Guards

Life Jackets: Your Best Friend on the Water

In 2010, the Coast Guard reported that of the 672 drowning incidents that occurred while boating, 88% of victims were not wearing life jackets.

There are many different types of life jackets and flotation devices that you can make available to passengers on your boat.

The CDC suggests you use only Coast Guard approved life jackets

Weather DangersNasty weather conditions can turn a pleasant boating experience into a very scary one. If at all possible, you should get out of the water whenever storm clouds start to appear. Why?

Lightning – 400 injuries and 55 to 60 deaths a year.

Tornadoes – Maryland averages 6 tornadoes a year. Nationally, tornadoes cause 1,500 injuries and 60-65 fatalities a year.

Floods – 90 fatalities a year, making it the leading cause of storm-related deaths

Reckless BoatingNegligent boating not only carries stiff fines, it also endangers the lives of you and your passengers. Here are examples of what constitutes negligent operation of a boat in Maryland:

• Operating in a swimming area• Excessive speed • Hazardous skiing• Improper seating• Operating boat under the

influence.

Alcohol and BUI Approximately half of all

boating accidents are alcohol related.

Alcohol use was involved in up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation.

Alcohol use was involved 1 in 5 boating deaths.

Legal Limit for Alcohol Intoxication by a boat operator is .08% blood alcohol content.

Maryland Boat Safety Education

“The Maryland Boating Safety Education Law requires that any person born on or after July 1, 1972, must have in their possession a certificate of boating safety education while operating a numbered or documented vessel on Maryland waters.” -- From the Boat US Foundation

Here is a link to the Boat Maryland Course.

Shark Attacks – A Real Danger?Chances of a shark attack are 1 in 11.5 million. But because we know that sharks are lurking somewhere under water when we do venture into the ocean, fear of an attack is not completely unjustified.

Avoid Shark Attacks by:• Staying in groups• Get out of the water when

bleeding

Injured on the Water?Boating or drowning accident? You could be eligible to

receive compensation if negligence was involved. Equipment could have malfunctioned, proper safety procedures not followed, or alcohol may have been

involved.

We can help what determine what happened. http://www.theinjurylawyermd.com

Find Us on Social Media!http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steven-heisler/5/a74/8aa https://www.facebook.com/attorneysteveheisler Disclaimer: All content is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice. Interaction with or

distribution/sharing of this material does not constitute an attorney-client relationship. This is online material falls under classification as attorney advertising.