The Problem
Wearing a lifejacket or PFD (personal floatation device) is the simplest and most effective action you can take to be safe as a boater… but you knew that.
Every experienced boater knows that life jackets save lives and have likely even heard a few supporting statistics. In fact, year after year, nearly *80% of boating fatalities are drownings in the United States, and at least 80% of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. In Oregon over the past decade, an average of 10 recreational boating fatalities every year are attributed to not wearing a life jacket.
This information is widely available and painfully consistent, and in our modern world of lightning-fast data exchange and adequate signage, it would be difficult to avoid. Yet every year, too many people still drown in Oregon boating accidents from not wearing a properly fitting life jacket. Why is this? What led to their choices?
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
People make decisions in lots of different ways. One of these ways, is rational thought, where decisions are made by careful consideration of the evidence, or the facts, which is the most recognized. We favor rationality so much that we tend to see it as the only way to make decisions. We expect others to make decisions this way and may find ourselves getting angry if they don’t, and then we tend to explain our own actions as a result of rational thought, even when others don’t.
Culture
Because we tend to imitate others as a learning strategy, recognizing we as boaters are automatically part of a community and culture is important. Our actions affect other boaters, especially young or inexperienced ones because they see us. If we appear competent, people will imitate and learn from us, regardless of our intentions. This makes growing our boating culture to prioritize safety a responsibility all boaters share, and it starts with setting a good example.
Awareness
The group of people who become the above-mentioned 10 drownings includes experienced boaters as well as inexperienced. Experienced boaters are less likely to imitate others as a decision strategy, but they are far more likely to use a rule of thumb incorrectly. When we get so used to doing things we don’t have to think about, our attention can wander. As someone learns an activity like boating, they adapt to the conditions they are familiar with and become comfortable. They start to expect the same outcomes and come to believe that what they are doing is completely predictable due to their experience and skill, even though it isn’t. Now let’s go back to imagining. The experienced boater from the previous example goes to a waterway they are very familiar with. They have boated in the same location hundreds of times and not once have they ended up in the water. This has led them to believe that they cannot fall in the water and so they probably don’t need their life jacket on. Maybe they do this once safely and decide that the life jacket was unnecessary, then they start doing it more frequently because it feels safe. Then one day they are boating on the waterway and something unexpected happens, they end up in the water and drown. Again, a common response to this incident would be the experienced boater made a poor choice, but again, doesn’t really capture what led to the drowning. The experienced boater incorrectly applied a rule of thumb. They were focusing on their previous experiences and forgot to remember what could happen. This is the danger of using heuristics to make decisions. Things can become so unconscious, they are taken for granted, and subtle changes are ignored. Sometimes really important ones. To avoid this, it is important for experienced boaters to maintain good situational awareness and always pay attention to their surroundings. Being able to do things without thinking is nice. It frees up mental space for other tasks, but it is important to use this mental space wisely. If it is used to let the mind wander, we can lose the ability to quickly adapt to changes in our environment and deal appropriately with the unexpected. If it is used wisely, it allows us to be more vigilant to changes we might otherwise miss and makes us safer boaters.
What is a pro? In this case, we are talking about a boater setting a good example for themselves and others to follow. This means they wear their life jacket, not only to improve their own safety but also because people might see and imitate them. They behave in ways that they would like to see others behave and understand their actions can affect the actions of other, less or similarly experienced boaters. They maintain good situational awareness while boating and use their skills more effectively, instead of being complacent or letting their mind wander. They remain vigilant about what could happen.
Justin Lauer joined the Oregon State Marine Board in 2022 and serves as the agency’s Portland Waterways Engagement Coordinator. Lauer is a former river rafting guide with extensive experience and skills in whitewater boating. Lauer is also experienced in both motorized boating and non-motorized paddling.
*Oregon averaged 10.2 boating fatalities due to drowning where a life jacket wasn’t worn over the last 10 years. 63.5% were not wearing life jackets over a 10-year period. Even though the wear rate in Oregon is better than the national average, the actual ratio of fatalities to registered motorboats appears higher than in other states. One reason is the diverse waterways with more inherent risk, primarily coastal bays, and rivers. For detailed annual reports, visit the Marine Board’s Incidents and Fatalities Page.
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