The horsepower on boats have grown, which means speed becomes a factor. More people can afford boats, and have boats, more than at any other time in history. So this means we have a lot of congestion. And drinking and doing drugs is not safe. Alcohol's effects are magnified on the water, Odell says.
Water speeds up the effects of alcohol.
Vibration is a contributing factor. And the heat, the air, the sun, tends to dehydrate you more, which make alcohol's effects hit you faster. Boats are full of distractions, Odell adds. There's fuel lines and electrical wires, and with passengers who are intoxicated, they can be a greater distraction to the operator than what's going on on the water. What To Do For more information on ways to prevent accidental drowning, see the National Center for Injury Prevention .