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SACRAMENTO — Over Memorial Day weekend, the California Department of Boating and Waterways (Cal Boating) reminds boaters to stay safe on the water by wearing life jackets. According to Cal Boating statistics, 21 percent of boating accidents, 24 percent of all boating injuries and 15 percent of all boating fatalities took place during Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day periods in 2007.

"Last year, a total of 87 percent of all boating fatalities could have been prevented if the victim had been wearing a life jacket,” says Raynor Tsuneyoshi, Director of Cal Boating. “A common misconception is to assume that you don’t need to wear one because you can swim. We urge all boaters to put on a life jacket before boarding a boat.”

Because accidents happen without warning, it is important to wear life jackets at all times. Newly styled life jackets, including fishing vests that double as life jackets, are compact, lightweight and more comfortable than the orange “horse collar” of old. There is no excuse not to wear a life jacket.

Boaters should make sure that their vessels are legally equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets for all passengers, and carry other required safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, sound signals and navigation lights. Other safety reminders include maintaining a proper lookout and watching boat speed.

Additionally, all boat passengers are strongly urged to skip the alcohol when boating; designating a sober skipper cannot guarantee safety for everyone on board.

For more information on boating safety, visit Cal Boating’s Web site www.dbw.ca.gov.

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