Law enforcement and local paddlers are making water safety a priority after Whatcom County waters claimed the lives of six kayakers and canoeists last year.
U.S. Coast Guard officials and Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office marine patrol deputy Stu Smith discussed opportunities for boater education at a meeting Thursday.
“We don’t want our guys picking up any more dead bodies,” said Jim Herzog, officer in charge at the Bellingham Coast Guard station.
Some suggested asking local boating retailers to include safety pamphlets with every sale of a kayak or canoe. Others discussed safety classes for beginners or demonstrations at boating shows.
Smith said the six boating deaths in Whatcom County last year was a higher-than-normal number. Coast Guard officials said they do not have statistics on local boating deaths in years before 2007, but the entire state averages 36 boating deaths a year.
Mac Carter, a member of Whatcom Association of Kayak Enthusiasts, said paddle sports can be an extremely rewarding hobby, but dangerous if people don’t take proper safety precautions.
“Kayaking is an adventurous sport — it attracts the rugged individualist,” Carter said. “(Without safety training), you longer just gradually accumulate that knowledge from those that are above you on the learning curve.”
Here are some basic safety tips from the American Canoe Association: