U.S. Coast Guard provides safety tips for water fun with summer quickly approaching

As coronavirus stay-at-home restrictions lessen, the United States Coast Guard is urging the public to be safe on the waters of the Pacific Northwest with summer quickly approaching.

Despite the weather getting warmer, the water in the Pacific Northwest remains “dangerously” cold, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

According to the Coast Guard, an estimated 130 people die annually in the United States while kayaking or canoeing, with 90% of those deaths caused by drowning.

The most common reasons for these fatalities are failure to wear a life jacket, operator inattention or inexperience, alcohol and drug use, hazardous waters, weather conditions and navigation rule violations.

The Coast Guard wants the public to remember that life jackets are required by law on all vessels, including paddleboards, kayaks and canoes. To ensure safety on the water this summer, the Coast Guard has developed seven tips for the public to practice.

Some tips may seem more obvious than others, like checking the weather, going with a friend and avoiding alcohol and drugs. However, the other four tips are not as commonly known.

First, file a “float plan.” Creating a plan that you share with someone staying behind with your intended route, people you’re going with and arrival time is key to remaining safe.

Second, wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. Wearing a life jacket saves lives, and often times people think about it when it is too late. Cold-water shock can be deadly in the Pacific Northwest.

Also, having a life jacket that has reflective tape makes you much more visible in case of an emergency. And finally, wearing clothing that will keep you warm in the water, like a wetsuit, will reduce the risk of hypothermia in the cold water.

Third, label your paddle craft. Having a label with a name, contact information and alternate contact number written in waterproof ink or paint can “drastically” reduce search times and help return a wayward watercraft to its rightful owner. This ensures first responders can identify if someone is actually in trouble and collect information to help search efforts.

Fourth, try to have a waterproof communication device. Items like a whistle, air phone, cell phone in a waterproof case, flares, a handheld VHF radio or a Personal Locator Beacon with proper registration are all sufficient and will help ensure your safety.

Having one of these devices will allow you to alert mariners in the immediate vicinity or send an alert to the Coast Guard.