Injuryboard Commentary - Boating

Keahihoku K.P. Lum of Honolulu Struck And Killed By Boat In Maunalua Bay

Wayne Parsons — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:44:00 GMT

An investigation by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) along with the Coast Guard is underway into an ocean boating death at maunalua Bay on Sunday, 4 October 2009. The victim, Keahihoku K.P. Lum of Honolulu, was in the water diving when the boat struck him shortly before 1 P.M. The boy was a senior at Farrington High School.

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The Medical Examiner identified trauma to Keahihoku's chest and stomach from a boat propeller. Most boats have propeller guards to protect against this type of tragedy. The Propeller Guard Information Center has a wealth of information on propeller guards. The site includes references to support groups for families like the Lum's.

Memorial Sites to Propeller Accident Victims

Survivor Advocacy in General

Other Links Related to Propeller Safety

Although the death is labeled as an accident it is certainly being looked at carefully by the investigators as it should be. One mus hope that they look closely at why the propeller guard was not shielded. If anyone has information about this incident thy should come forward to the Coast Guard, the DNLR or post a Comment below.

My thoughts go out to the Lum family.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Wayne Parsons

Duck Hunting Safety

Mike Bryant — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:50:09 GMT

Duck Hunting season is just around the corner. Often there is the combination of hunting and boating. It's a great time to think about hunter safety. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds every hunter that the first thought should always be about safety. Twelve hunters have drowned in boating accidents.

While planning a waterfowl hunt, don't forget to check to be sure the boat is in good working condition, with enough gas for the trip and equipped with the proper personal flotation devices and other safety gear.
Make sure everyone on board has a properly fitted, Coast Guard approved, life vest or float coat.
Camouflage styles are available and some allow the wearer to shoot without removing the life vest.
Never stand in an unsecured boat to shoot.
Be aware of dogs, and other partners while in a boat.
Be extra careful with your gun. Similar to a blind, a boat is close quarters.
Put your unloaded shotgun in a secured case.

Minnesota law requires a readily accessible U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on duck boats. Camouflage colored life jackets are available for hunters.

“The lack of flotation devices is still one of the most common law violations among waterfowl hunters and the most common cause of duck hunter deaths,” said Tim Smalley, DNR boating safety specialist. “It’s been that way ever since 1988, when life jackets were first required on duck boats.”

For boats 16-feet and longer, there must be one U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation seat cushion on board, to throw to someone in distress. Seat cushions are no longer approved as primary flotation devices. Everyone on the boat needs a wearable personal flotation device of the proper size and type.

The DNR discourages hunters from wearing hip boots or waders in the boat due to safety concerns. Hunters have drowned while trying to take their waders off after they have fallen into the water or their boat has capsized.

For all hunters, the Injuryboard members have provided gun safety and hunting tips in the past. For each hunt, it's important that the supervising adult be vigilant concerning each young hunter, that every hunter be watch out for them self, for everyone to use their gun properly, and be safe.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Mike Bryant

Area Boat Accidents Back on the Rise

Emily Mapp Brannon — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:58:00 GMT

Sunday's Daily Press delivered the unwelcome news that the Chesapeake Bay and rivers and lakes throughout Virginia (VA) had already seen more accidents this year than during all of 2008. Worse, the 124 reported accidents in 2009 almost match the 146 reported in 2007.

People in motor boats, canoes and kayaks had accidents. So did people riding Jet Skis and other personal watercraft. According to Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries rules, each of the accidents represented by these statistics reflect an incident in which someone was seriously injured or killed, more than $2,000 of property got damaged or someone disappeared.

The Daily Press story struck me because I know that accidents on the water are usually preventable or avoidable. One recent case in point is the man who drowned after being washed off his small boat by an unexpected wave while watching the early rounds of this year's East Coat Surfing Championships. The man, Tong Xiao, was not wearing a life jacket.

Virginia has started an almost decade-long program to improve the safety of boating by requiring licenses and safety classes for anyone who drives a motor boat or rides a Jet Ski. My colleagues and I have already applauded these measures, but the recent rise in accidents on the water argue for speeding up the timetable for licensing and educating boaters.

About the Editors: Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton personal injury law firm is based in Virginia (VA), near the NE North Carolina (NC) border. The firm handles car, truck, railroad, medical negligence cases and more. Our lawyers proudly edit the Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono public information service. We also host a YouTube injury law video library with more than 50 videos covering many FAQs on personal injury subjects. Shapiro, Cooper, Lewis & Appleton’s lawyers are licensed in VA, NC, SC, WV, DC and KY.

EJL

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Emily Mapp Brannon

Spring Lake Teen Dies in Labor Day Boating Accident

David Mittleman — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:45:15 GMT

Spring Lake Township—a Labor Day weekend turned tragic after a teenage boy was killed after his Sea-Doo personal watercraft collided with a powerboat in Stahl’s Bayou on Saturday evening. One of the boy’s passengers on the personal watercraft has reportedly lost her leg as a result of the collision and is in critical condition. The second passenger is reportedly doing well and suffered only minor bumps and bruises.

15-year-old Robert Jack Jervosek of Spring Lake was driving his 2007 GTX Sea-Doo personal watercraft with 23-year-old Kaitlin Van Dam and another 16-year-old girl riding on the back when he collided with a 2005 MasterCraft Ski Boat. None of the five teenagers riding in the boat were injured.

The powerboat was apparently making a large turn, when it struck the personal watercraft from behind. Rescuers were called at approximately 7:10 p.m. to the scene of the accident, where Jervosek was pronounced dead. According to investigators, the 15-year-old driver of the powerboat had his boating safety certification. Furthermore, alcohol is not believed to be a factor in the accident, although the accident is still under investigation.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Boating Safety : Being the owner makes you the captain.

Steve Lombardi — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:52:00 GMT

Going out on the boat is supposed to be about fun and relaxation, but safety rules never take a break. The reality is that the captain of the boat must maintain control at all times. And even though you may be on a small watercraft, such as a Boston Whaler, you still need to maintain control. That means you don't get to drink and drive. It means at times you have to be the heavy hand of reason. That's just the nature of owning a boat.

I grew up on the waters off of Bristol Harbor, in Bristol Rhode Island. We hung around at the end of Fales Road where Denny Capinagro and Johnny Cloud lived. They owned boat but I was too poor. They owned a 13' 6" Boston Whaler. Because I weighed only 80 pounds I was the first to try and water ski with the 25 horsepowered Evinrude. The Whalers today are a lot prettier than back in the late 60's and early 70's but the rules remain the same. We had lots of fun on the water but we never forgot who was in charge.

No matter how young of a captain you may be, remember the consequences of what you do or don't do. Control your passengers and when they get out-of-hand, you can always drop them off on shore or at the dock.

Take a good hard look at the second news item from Omaha, Nebraska and you'll see how one decision lead to a difficult ending to what would have been a fun day.

Iowa – As of May 2009 Iowa made wearing a safety vest for those boaters under age 13 mandatory. There is an exemption for commercial boats with a capacity of 25 people or more or while in an enclosed cabin and below deck.

Omaha, Nebraska – Two women were being pulled on an inner tube behind a boat and one died when the inner tube was whipped around on a turn and struck a dock. This accident occurred in Douglas County on West Shores Lake. The women injured were Jennifer Dwyer (30) and Kimberly Spangler (29). Todd Spangler (30) the boat operator was reportedly cited for suspicion of a BUI. (Boating under the influence.) This was certainly a tragedy and one in which a day of fun turns into a lifetime of heartache and painful memories. Both women needed to be flown to an area hospital where Dwyer died. There is no indication of whether she died of head injuries or spinal injuries. From a legal standpoint there are many issues we can’t discuss but operator error is certainly an issue along with those being pulled watching out and dropping when danger approaches. Of course being whipped around makes it difficult to see what is coming. Drinking alcohol and driving never helps or contributes to a safe boat outing.

Ogollala, Nebraska – Three people were injured and another killed when a mechanical problem cause a speed boat to flip and roll. The boat broke apart causing all passengers to be ejected. A Colorado man was killed. The other passengers were his wife and two children ages 15 and 9. The family is from Parker, Colorado a suburb of Denver.

Missouri - See what it’s like to patrol the waters in Missouri with the state water patrol. Officially they are called the Missouri State Water Patrol.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Let's Avoid Any More Boat Accidents On Lake Austin

Brooks Schuelke — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 10:54:23 GMT

My wife and kids went out on Lake Austin last Thursday with some family members. When I asked my wife how it went, she told me it was crowded. With Lake Travis being so low that it is almost unusable, there are too many boaters and too many big boats now using Lake Austin, making it dangerous.

Sadly, that was evidenced this weekend. A boat wreck occurred Saturday, near Mt. Bonnell, sending two young children and others to the hospital. Cody Painter, the driver of one of the boats, has been arrested for intoxication assault.

As traffic on the lake increases, boaters need to take action to protect themselves and others. At a minimum you should:

1. Avoid drinking and driving. This should go without saying, but a significant percentage of boating accidents involve alcohol.

2. Use your lights. Austin Lake Police have indicated that one of the biggest risks of danger is night time collisions.

3. Wear your life vest. I remember when I was a kid and my dad lived on Lake Austin. I couldn't wait until I turned 14 so that I didn't have to wear a life vest in the boat. That was a bad idea. The Centers for Disease Control has even devoted its 2009 Safe Boating Campaign to encourage everyone in boats to wear a life vest at all times.

4. Look out for others. As the lake crowds increase, make sure you are cognizant of other skiiers, tubers and wakeboarders. And always remember that as you follow, they could fall in an instant. On the other hand, when you voluntarily stop to get in and out of the water, make sure that you are doing so in as safe a place as possible.

If any of you have any more tips, please feel free to share them. Everyone that uses the lake has a responsibility to help keep it safe.

UPDATE:

This wreck hits a little closer to home. I just received an email that the adult that was seriously injured was a parent of one of my son's classmates, and the two other children are neighoborhood kids. One of the children is very seriously injured so please keep all involved in your thoughts.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Brooks Schuelke

Boating Safety : River Dams Pose Special Kinds of Risk to Boaters

Steve Lombardi — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:00:00 GMT

On July 30^th 2009 at about 7:30 p.m. a man riding a personal watercraft in the Cedar River died after getting to close to a dam and getting sucked under. While his name hasn’t been released the police have stated that he was wearing a life vest but the undercurrent was too strong. Mr. Buelow a Fire Department spokesman stated that, “roller dams have a re-circulating current and anything drawn into the current is pulled under and barreled into a wall”. One has to wonder what kind of safety precautions are set up to avoid things like this; are there clear markers of where riders should and shouldn’t be riding, is it safe to even be on a personal watercraft in this area, was there something that could have been done differently? Whatever the reason this is a tragic and untimely end to a life.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Boating Safety News You Can Use - Where do you find safety information?

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:57:00 GMT

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – I’ve heard it said that in Minnesota there are two seasons: fishing and hunting. With over 10,000 lakes the DNR has an enormous task of monitoring use of the indigenous waters. Safety tips from the Minnesota DNR are available online and are free.

Wisconsin Boating Safety Classes – The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is offering boating safety classes from June 29^th through July 2 at the sheriff’s department located at 124 West Street, Juneau, Wisconsin. It will cost you $10, an amount well worth a saved life. Get your kids out of the house, away from the television and into one of these classes.

Boat Building – The boat builder’s home page has an entire blog devoted to just boating safety. The boat builders cover everything from carbon monoxide poisoning to paddling, boating news and boating accident analysis. If you need safety advice this appears to be a good stop. You can search the site for just what you’re looking to read. They offer an extensive links page that includes the following.

Links to New Boat Builders Home Page
· New Boat Builders Home Page

· Ike's List - Links to Everything Boatbuilding!

· New Boat Builders Home Page Boat Builder News

· My Space Page

Other Boating Safety Links
· National Safe Boating Council

· USCG Boating Safety Web Site

· USCG Coast Guard Auxiliary

· USCG Commandants Blog

· USCG Waypoints Boating Safety News Letter

· BOAT US Boat Owners Assoc Of the US

· Boat Safe . Com

· Marine Safety

· American Boating Association

· Essential Boating On The Web

· The Foundation For Safe Boating

· Boating Safety Resources

· Mad Mariner-Boating Blogs

· Other Boating Blogs

· ABOUT.COM Powerboating

Boat Safety Equipment – If you need to know what safety equipment to have onboard, consider the web site called Boat Pride. (www.boatpride.com) That site recommends fire extinguisher, flare, navigation aids, distress flags, EPIRB for larger boats on larger bodies of water and a whole host of other smaller pieces of safety equipment (tape, flashing light, etc.). Of course you don’t need safety equipment until you need it and then you really need it. So don’t be stupid and ignore safety equipment making the assumption nothing will ever happen to you or those onboard.

Pool Safety – An 8-year-old isn’t too young to save someone from drowning. A three-year-old was swimming with him, slipped off her inner as she floated in the family swimming pool and nearly drowned. Young Hailey Ingram saw her hair floating so he jumped into the pool, grabbed her and pulled her to safety. Now what is a 3-year-old doing swimming without a life vest?

Water Safety Expert – Maria Bella is an aquatics investigator at Robson Forensics who investigates water related injuries and deaths across the country. She looks at drowning cases, diving mishaps, suction entrapment and even chemical feeders blowing up. There is a great article titled Water Safety a Specialty for Pa. Investigator by Dennis Larison of the Lancaster News. This might make an interesting career for an engineer.

“What she learns can help a jury make a difficult decision or steer people who build aquatics facilities toward safer practices.

"Typically, I get drowning cases, diving incidents that may result in paralysis, suction entrapment, where someone has been pulled into and held by a suction outlet," she said. "Every once in a while, I get a case where the chemical feeder has blown up on someone, or a gassing at an indoor facility." “

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Two boats collided on Lost Island Lake, as two 13-year-old Iowans are at the helm

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 19:01:00 GMT

Two 13-year-olds operating separate boats collided on Lost Island Lake east of Spencer, Iowa. Lost Island Lake is one vacation water spot in Iowa. One of the boys was injured and flown to a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on Sunday. The report from KCCI indicates the one boat driven by Langerman had another 13-year-old passenger, Morgan Muller.

Question remains to be answered as to what they were doing just prior to colliding. When I grew up on the water every boat had a green/red light on the front indicating which side your boat should stay with an approaching boat. Also larger boats have to yield to smaller-slower boat.

Who should have yielded the right-of-way? What were they doing at the time just previous to colliding? There are many questions to be answered and few details to go on.

Lost Island Lake, Iowa 51358

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Iowa Prosecutor Increases the Charges against Boater Accused of Drunk Boating

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 16:44:00 GMT

Previously I posted, A Sioux City Councilman was injured in a boating accident on the Missouri River. It seems the case has taken another turn. It’s being reported by the major news sources the boat driver has been charged with two felonies related to the death of a passenger.

Oscar Gomez, of South Sioux City, Neb., was rescued. The other man, Bruce Wright, also of South Sioux City, Neb., disappeared. His body was found two days later about 11 miles downstream.

No longer can you drink and drive while boating. The law doesn’t allow it and here we have several people whose lives will be affected in the years to come. Also it’s worth mentioning; boat owners need to carry liability insurance, usually through their homeowner’s insurance policy or depending on the size of the boat and motor in a separate policy. That covers not just the owner when they make a mistake but also the injured or passengers that are killed. In this instance we probably have a widow and wife whose income streams have been stopped due to their husbands being injured or killed.

From the news sources this man’s body wasn’t found for two days. Consider this, drinking and driving a boat isn’t any different than drinking and driving a car; if you injure or kill someone you’re just as liable for medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain, suffering, brain damage, a head injury or severed limbs. Don’t be foolish, consider the consequences.

Boating is serious business and needs to be taken as such.

Update: The AP reports the Nebraska man plead not guilty in Woodbury County District Court.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Injuryboard Commentary - Boating

Keahihoku K.P. Lum of Honolulu Struck And Killed By Boat In Maunalua Bay

Memorial Sites to Propeller Accident Victims Survivor Advocacy in General Other Links Related to Propeller Safety

Duck Hunting Safety

Area Boat Accidents Back on the Rise

Spring Lake Teen Dies in Labor Day Boating Accident

Boating Safety : Being the owner makes you the captain.

Let's Avoid Any More Boat Accidents On Lake Austin

Boating Safety : River Dams Pose Special Kinds of Risk to Boaters

Boating Safety News You Can Use - Where do you find safety information?

Two boats collided on Lost Island Lake, as two 13-year-old Iowans are at the helm

Iowa Prosecutor Increases the Charges against Boater Accused of Drunk Boating

Memorial Sites to Propeller Accident Victims

Survivor Advocacy in General

Other Links Related to Propeller Safety