News Release: Coast Guard reminds boaters to "Boat Responsibly" during Labor Day weekend

Wear a Life jacket

Boaters should always wear a life jacket. Wearing a lifejacket will increase the chances of survivability in a boating accident. The number one cause of boating fatalities is drowning, most often by sudden, unexpected entry into the water. The law states you must have a life jacket, or personal floatation device, for every person on board. The Coast Guard suggests you go one step further and wear your life jacket at all times. It is much more difficult to locate, access and don a life jacket at the moment the accident occurs.

Boat Sober

DO NOT boat under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Alcohol and drugs affect judgment, vision, balance and coordination. Factor in boat motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray and an operator's impairment is accelerated. Intoxicated boaters can face both federal and state charges with penalties of up to one year in prison and fines up to $100,000. But, don’t be fooled into thinking that lesser amounts of alcohol consumption are OK, or that passengers aren’t at risk if they drink. The latest study on boating and alcohol indicates that the risk of a fatality rises significantly at amounts as low as .02 Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). (Legal definition of intoxication in Missouri is .08 BAC.)