Injuryboard Commentary - boating safety

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

Could a float plan have saved Marquis Cooper and his passengers?

Steve Lombardi — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:01:00 GMT

When you need to be rescued every minute counts. So if the boat sinks it is too late to be asking the question: What is a float plan?

A float plan is like a flight plan that pilot’s use to advise potential rescue crews about the intended flight, the vessel, the safety equipment on-board and the means of communication available to the crew. In the case of a boat we are talking about the vessel itself, it’s identification, the means of propulsion, telecommunications, navigation available to the boat crew, what visual distress signals rescuers should look for, what audible distress signals were available, what PFD’s were on board, the ground tackle available and other gear for life saving measures. The float plan lists the operator’s name, the type of boat and the names and addresses of the passengers expected onboard.

The Float Plan is free for the asking just follow the link. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides it and the Boating Emergency Guide for the asking.

Before leaving the dock fill out the plan and leave it with a responsible party who if you don’t show up as planned can advise the Coast Guard and other available search and rescue operations.

The ocean is large, unforgiving and relentless in a storm. As the captain you owe it to your passengers to take every precaution to protect them. Those taking safety for granted gamble with the lives of those they've been entrusted. Being the captain means being in charge of the ship. Being in charge of the ship starts before you leave the dock.

Don't ever forget, it is always quiet before the storm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BFux2AAMso

Remember that the Marquis Cooper boat mishap was about time in the water, getting cold and finally giving up. Once in the water it was all about time. Time mattered in so many ways but in terms of being able to hold on just one more minute it caused some overboard to just give up. If you've ever been really cold, near hypothermia, you know the feeling of wanting to give up. You can feel the chill down to your bones and how it starts to affect how you think about living or the alternative. After awhile the alternative doesn't seem all that bad a choice.

And that's what a float plan is all about; how much time it takes for those searching to locate the survivors. If a float plan can shave one minute off of how long it takes to locate the sunken ship that may be the minute needed between you giving up or you being saved.

Before leaving the dock, take a minute to fill out and put in the float plan in someone's hands. After all it might just be the minute you need to convince yourself the alternative can wait just one more minute.

For more on the Marquis Cooper boating tragedy read these additional IB posts:

Last Titanic Survivor Dies, Lessons to Learn from the Marquis ... ... and west coasts. Mistakes like those made by boat owner Marquis Cooper on the Gulf Coast waters off of St. Petersburg, Florida on ... 101k
Retrieving Anchor Caused Capsize OF NFL Players' Boat ... Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, NFL free agent Corey Smith, and former ... Eventually they anchored Cooper's 21-foot fishing boat 50 miles off the ... 63k
Report Issued: Improper anchoring caused boat to capsize in Gulf ... ... They went more than 50 miles offshore in NFL player Marquis Cooper's 21 foot boat. About 5:30 pm they tried to pull up the anchor but it was stuck. ... 91k
A Sioux City Councilman was injured in a boating accident on ... ... have a driving maneuver that surprises the passengers, one in which they were not prepared for resulting in them being thrown overboard and struck by the boat. ... 101k
Lifejacket And Staying With Boat May Have Saved Rescued Boater ... ... hard to miss, they include Oakland Raiders linebacker Victor “Marquis” Cooper, Detroit Lions ... a fishing trip in the Gulf and their 21-foot boat was anchored ... 98k
Boating Safety News You Can Use from around the Midwest ... ... July 14, 2009 10:23 AM Tags: boating safety, Titanic, Marquis Cooper, injury, death, on the ... Two women were being pulled on an inner tube behind a boat and one ... 101k
What is a float plan? | InjuryBoard Des Moines ... July 15, 2009 10:49 AM Tags: boating safety, Titanic, Marquis Cooper, injury, death, on the ... In the case of a boat we are talking about the vessel itself, it ... 101k

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

What is a float plan?

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:49:00 GMT

The Float Plan is free for the asking just follow the link. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary provides it and the Boating Emergency Guide for the asking.

Before leaving the dock fill out the plan and leave it with a responsible party who if you don’t show up as planned can advise the Coast Guard and other available search and rescue operations.

Tomorrow let's look at the Marquis Cooper mishap.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Boating Safety News You Can Use from around the Midwest

Steve Lombardi — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 10:23:00 GMT

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.

Water Safety with the Red Cross - The American Red Cross offers these tips:

ON THE WATER

- Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket when boating and fishing. Close to 80 percent of boating fatalities in the U.S. are caused by drowning.

- Alcohol and boating don’t mix. More than 50 percent of drownings from boating accidents involve alcohol.

- Develop a float plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone.

- Know weather conditions and prepare for an electrical storm. Because water conducts electricity it is wise to stop swimming or boating as soon as you see or hear a storm.

- Carry basic safety equipment — life jackets, a throwable personal flotation device, tow line, extra paddle, a bailing device, distress signal, fire extinguisher and first aid kit.

Source: American Red Cross

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi

Boating Safety News You Can Use

Steve Lombardi — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:44:00 GMT

I’m continuing to post news and information about boating safety both here in the Injuryboard and on The Verdict, my own web blog with the Lombardi Law Firm. Today we have a website with interesting information about traveling with children, infants and small children. I’m providing a website with accidental injury statistics. These statistics really tell us where to identify the main causes of injury or death. They also identify those months of the year that are the most dangerous to boating or being around the water. And one last news item has to do with an electrical fire that sparked a fire and ended with an explosion; an event that should tell you something about what to do when a fire breaks out on board. Get the children into life jackets and off the boat.

www.Gurgle.com – This website post offers 13tips for traveling and visiting with small or infant children.

Boating’s most dangerous times of the year are the months of May through August. Worldwide drawings are estimated to total 1,750,000 per year. Talking to your children about safety seems to make sense but probably isn’t done properly. Just saying “Use your head”, doesn’t get your point across.

Harrison, Maine – Four people escaped injury and death while on Maine’s Long Lake. The cause of a fire onboard is likely to be an electrical short that sparked a fire and then an explosion. Maine is also participating in Operation Dry Water and has over 100 game wardens patrolling the waters.

Boating Accident Statistics - If you’re interested in boating accident statistics look no further than Commander Bob and his web blog. Boating fatalities from recreational boating have dropped year over year, and that’s good news. He points to alcohol being a likely cause of many. He’s got a graph for boating fatalities from 1991 to 2008, fatalities by type of boat, whether the person killed was wearing a life jacket or not, along with many other types of classifications. You can also visit the U.S. Coast Guard’s website page called The Main Channel and Beacons. The Coast Guard provides a free boating safety information sheet for recreational boaters. Apparently the acronym for drunken boating is BUI, boating under the influence.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by Steve Lombardi