The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is urging all recreational boaters and commercial vessel operators to prioritize safety by wearing lifejackets, as part of a new initiative aimed at reducing drowning deaths. Lifejackets save lives, but only if they are worn. There is no excuse that will ever be good enough for grieving families left behind after losing a loved one at sea who wasn’t wearing a lifejacket and drowned.
Research from Royal Lifesaving Society Australia and AMSA continue to report drowning deaths involving people going overboard during recreational boating and commercial vessel operations. The majority of people that lose their lives as a result of going overboard are not wearing lifejackets.
“A lifejacket substantially increases your chances of survival if you go overboard suddenly. If you aren’t wearing a lifejacket at the point of going overboard, chances are you’re not going to have time to put one on,” said David Marsh, AMSA National Operations Manager – Regions.
He added, “That’s why it’s critical to assess the risks of the activities you’re undertaking and the possibility of going overboard. If there’s a risk, you should be wearing a lifejacket already. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
Over the coming months AMSA will be pushing this critical message out to recreational boaters and commercial vessel operators in a bid to save more lives.
Marsh said AMSA has heard all the excuses over the years for not wearing lifejackets. He said, “Unfortunately, the most common excuse for not wearing a lifejacket is that they are uncomfortable to wear. This is not the case as there are different types of lifejackets on the market including slimline options that are specifically designed for free movement.”
