Yay! It’s another holiday weekend which means barbecues, boating, swimming, and family gatherings. At Paul Davis Restoration & Emergency Services, we love holiday weekends as much as the next person, but because of our line of business, we know that these are the times of the year when accidents are likely to occur. That’s why we wanted to share a few safety reminders with everyone this Fourth of July holiday.
First up: boating. Here are some recreational boating statistics from 2010 from the U.S. Coastguard:
- There were 4,604 accidents that involved 672 deaths, 3,153 injuries, and approximately $35.5 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.
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- Almost three-fourths of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 88 percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket.
- Only nine percent of deaths occurred on boats where the operator had received boating safety instruction.
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- Only six percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had received boating safety instruction from a NASBLA-approved course provider.
- Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, and alcohol rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.
- Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 19% of the deaths.
The takeaway here: if you’re going to be on the lake, wear your life jacket at all times, don’t speed, watch out for other boaters, take a boater’s safety course, and most importantly, don’t drink!
Next, fireworks. Almost every cookout and gathering involves fireworks. They’re fun, yes, but they can be dangerous if the right precautions aren’t taken. Here are a few fireworks safety reminders from the Consumer Product Safety Commission:
- Make sure fireworks are legal in your area before buying or using them.
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
- Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishap.
- Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks.
We hope everyone has a fun Fourth of July weekend. Enjoy the time spent with your family and friends and be safe!
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