Northbrook, Ill., May 2000 - A mountain climber scaling a cliff wall wouldn't do so without a strong rope and a safety harness. A hockey goalie wouldn't dream of stopping a puck without the protection of pads and a helmet. Yet, many boaters this summer will take to the water without wearing an extremely important piece of equipment-one that could save their lives. The National Safety Council and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. have teamed up again this boating season to help spread the word about the importance of life jackets. Drowning is the leading cause of death for recreational boaters with 574 drownings in 1998.
Life jackets are more comfortable today and they are proven life savers.
Even experienced swimmers may panic and drown. Federal law requires boat operators to have a properly fitting life jacket for everyone on board and a throwable device for craft that are 16 feet in length or longer. Some states require that children wear a life jacket. Obey your state's laws. Hypothermia, the loss of body heat, contributes to as many as half of all water fatalities.