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Anonymous
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04/23/06
2005 boating accident statistical report available
Florida saw the number of boating deaths increase in 2005 to the highest number reported in 10 years.
The majority of the increase resulted from victims falling overboard, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's newly released 2005 Boating Accident Statistical Report.
Eighty people lost their lives in 69 incidents last year, a 15-percent increase from 2004.
"We are very concerned about the upward trend in boating fatalities," said FWC Capt. Richard Moore, Florida's boating law administrator. "Especially given the fact the vast majority of these are easily preventable. Paying attention to what's going on around your boat is very important, since many accidents are the result of a collision with another vessel or fixed object."
In 2005, falls overboard increased 53 percent over the previous year, resulting in 29 incidents and 30 victims. Of those victims, 79 percent of fatal falls overboard involved an open motorboat or some other small, unstable craft.
Additionally, 69 percent of fatal falls overboard occurred on calm, inland waters; 93 percent of the victims drowned (63 percent of those reportedly could swim); none of the drowning victims were wearing or using a life jacket; and 53 percent were at least 51 years old.
"As for the deaths," Moore said, "the simple act of wearing a life jacket is your best insurance on the water. Our stats show that it's mostly swimmers who are drowning when they unexpectedly end up in the water."
Sandy Morone and Gay Kite of Ocala outlived their sons, who drowned in a boating accident Dec. 19, 2004, on Half Moon Lake in the Ocala National Forest. Their sons, Allan Michael Morone, 22, and John Edward Ray, 23, failed to wear life vests. Their bodies were not recovered for more than a week.
"You don't think it will happen to you," Morone said. "You think it will happen to someone else. I'm living, but I'm not living the same way."
Kite agrees with Morone on the importance of wearing a life vest.
"I do know, as a mother who has lost her son, these accidents can be prevented," she said.
The report documents statistics for each county, including the number of accidents categorized by type of vessel, number of registered vessels for each county, accidents by time of month and day, cause of incident, operator education and various other information.
Provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
2005 boating accident statistical report available
Florida saw the number of boating deaths increase in 2005 to the highest number reported in 10 years.
The majority of the increase resulted from victims falling overboard, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's newly released 2005 Boating Accident Statistical Report.
Eighty people lost their lives in 69 incidents last year, a 15-percent increase from 2004.
"We are very concerned about the upward trend in boating fatalities," said FWC Capt. Richard Moore, Florida's boating law administrator. "Especially given the fact the vast majority of these are easily preventable. Paying attention to what's going on around your boat is very important, since many accidents are the result of a collision with another vessel or fixed object."
In 2005, falls overboard increased 53 percent over the previous year, resulting in 29 incidents and 30 victims. Of those victims, 79 percent of fatal falls overboard involved an open motorboat or some other small, unstable craft.
Additionally, 69 percent of fatal falls overboard occurred on calm, inland waters; 93 percent of the victims drowned (63 percent of those reportedly could swim); none of the drowning victims were wearing or using a life jacket; and 53 percent were at least 51 years old.
"As for the deaths," Moore said, "the simple act of wearing a life jacket is your best insurance on the water. Our stats show that it's mostly swimmers who are drowning when they unexpectedly end up in the water."
Sandy Morone and Gay Kite of Ocala outlived their sons, who drowned in a boating accident Dec. 19, 2004, on Half Moon Lake in the Ocala National Forest. Their sons, Allan Michael Morone, 22, and John Edward Ray, 23, failed to wear life vests. Their bodies were not recovered for more than a week.
"You don't think it will happen to you," Morone said. "You think it will happen to someone else. I'm living, but I'm not living the same way."
Kite agrees with Morone on the importance of wearing a life vest.
"I do know, as a mother who has lost her son, these accidents can be prevented," she said.
The report documents statistics for each county, including the number of accidents categorized by type of vessel, number of registered vessels for each county, accidents by time of month and day, cause of incident, operator education and various other information.
Provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission