Florida officials urge boater safety for July 4th weekend

As reported in Tallahassee Democrat in Be cautious on the waters, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) urges boaters to practice cautious behavior while boating on July 4th.  FWC especially advises boaters to wear life jackets all the time while boating.

According to statistics, boating accidents are usually caused by the operator's inattentiveness. Most boating accident fatalities are men, and most accidents involve a single vessel. The FWC's Boating and Waterways Section reports 27 fatalities so far this year. Eighteen of these deaths were attributed to drowning, and many could have been prevented had the victim been wearing a life jacket.