# Presentation: 679426

## Will it Float? Study on Mandatory PFD Wear Legislation in Canada

- Barbara Byers
- Chair, Canadian Safe Boating Council

## Will You Float?

***	******“******Keeping a lifejacket handy versus wearing one is like attempting to buckle a seat belt just before the car crashes”***
***	******	******	******	***
***	******	******	******	***US Coast Guard official

## CANADA

- Population of about 30 million people.
- More inland fresh water than any other country....plus 3 oceans.
- 40% of Canadians annually go boating.

## Why do the Study?

- 140 fatalities each year is unacceptable.
- It is the mission of the CSBC to reduce fatalities and injuries.
- 89% of boaters who drown were found NOT wearing a PFD – increasing trend!
- Wear rate of about 21% is too low.

## Independent Consultant

- SMARTRISK was hired to do the study, with funding from the Cook-Rees Memorial Fund.
- Incorporated existing Canadian and international data.
- Included new public opinion study in Canada and interviews with 45 international representatives, as well as Canadian experts.

## Will it Float? Conclusions

- Boating-related drownings warrant attention.
- PFD wear is the risk factor to address to prevent these drownings.
- Mandatory wear legislation is the intervention to employ to increase the PFD wear-rate.
- Such legislation should be feasible in Canada.

## Will it Float? Recommendations

- 	The CSBC should work toward mandatory PFD wear legislation.
- Develop action plan
- Consult stakeholders
- Develop communications strategy
- Conduct additional research

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- Boating-related drownings warrant attention:
- On average there are 140 recreational boating fatalities each year in Canada.
- Canada’s drowning rate is much higher than many other westernized countries.

## Findings to Support Conclusions 

- 2.	PFD wear is the risk factor to address to prevent these drownings:
- 89% of boaters who drowned were found  NOT wearing a PFD.
- Boaters who report that they have time to reach and don a PFD when they need to are wrong.

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 2.	PFD wear is the risk factor to address to prevent these drownings cont’d:
- The influence of cold water makes it even more difficult to don a PFD and survive the cold water shock.
**Of the ready points of leverage for drowning prevention, increasing PFD wear has the greatest potential to affect drowning rates.**

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 3.	Mandatory wear legislation is the intervention to employ:
- The introduction of new PFDs and current promotional, incentive and communication campaigns have NOT increased the wear-rate.
- Boaters do not feel that they are at risk when they don’t wear a PFD.

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 3.	Mandatory legislation is the intervention to employ cont’d:
- Legislation requiring children to wear PFDs in the US has not increased the wear-rate for adults.
- Tasmania, Australia which has mandatory legislation for all boaters, has a wear rate of 95% versus 49% before legislation.

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 3.	Mandatory legislation is the intervention to employ cont’d:
- Seat belt usage has increased dramatically following the introduction of legislation.
- Bicycle helmet rates have also increased  dramatically post-legislation.

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 4.	Such legislation should be feasible in Canada:
- Public opinion survey for PFD legislation for all occupants on board was very strong – from 70% for pontoon boats to 87% for PWCs.
- Few supported PFD legislation for children only.
- Opposition to PFD legislation was minimal (5-7%).

## Findings to Support Conclusions

- 4.	Such legislation should be feasible in Canada cont’d:
- Mandatory wear legislation can’t be any harder to enforce than the current mandatory carriage legislation....and it could be argued that it would be easier to enforce.

## Will it Float? Recap

- Boating-related drownings warrant attention.
- PFD wear is the risk factor to address to prevent these drownings.
- Mandatory wear legislation is the intervention to employ to increase the PFD wear-rate.
- Such legislation should be feasible in Canada.

## Current CSBC Position

- 	That there be mandatory PFD wear legislation for:
- All passengers in vessels for recreational use
- Vessels 6 meters (20 feet) or less
- While on deck (not in an enclosed cabin)
- While underway

## CSBC Action Plan

- Present the Will it Float? findings to boating stakeholder groups across Canada and internationally.
- Conduct Town Hall meetings with the public and share findings.
- Seek and obtain endorsement letters to the CSBC position on mandatory wear legislation.
- Then work with Canadian government department to develop legislation.

## More Information?

- Go to _[www.csbc.ca](http://www.csbc.ca/)__	__to download the Will it Float? study in PDF format._
- Contact information:
- 		_[barbarab@lifeguarding.com](mailto:barbarab@lifeguarding.com)_
- Thank you