Blogs, Podcasts & Editorial

Keeping Journalists Afloat: The Latest News, Trends and Insights About Life Jackets and Boating Safety

Reporters covering boating accidents know to ask about life jackets, because the question goes to the How and Why of fatal accidents and miracle survival stories alike. But the deeper context can be harder to capture, especially on a short deadline…

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Alcohol and Boating Don’t Mix

Drunken passengers can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, lean over the side, or stand up in small vessels, causing vessels to capsize. Sun, wind, boat and wave action intensify the effects of alcohol.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Carriage of Fire Extinguishers

All extinguishers must be Coast Guard approved marine type extinguishers, and have a UL rating of 5-B or higher, which can be found on their label.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: The Rules of the Road

The Navigation Rules are much like the rules of the road on the highway. They establish a consistent way to navigate safely and avoid collisions when two boats are crossing paths, are on course to meet head-on, or when one boat wishes to overtake another.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Carbon Monoxide

Exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) in large amounts or even small amounts for a long duration often results in death. CO is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas in the exhaust produced in gasoline engines.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Search and Rescue Process

If a boater is in distress, they should contact search and rescue assets via VHF-DSC marine band radio, or with an EPIRB or PLB. It is the boater’s responsibility to contact search and rescue assets.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: EPIRB and PLB

An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon, or EPIRB, is used to alert Search and Rescue forces in the event of an emergency.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Emergency Engine/Propulsion Cut-Off Devices FAQ

Emergency engine/propulsion cut-off devices, sometimes referred to as an engine cut-off switch or kill switch, are a time-proven safety device used to stop the boats engines should the driver unexpectedly fall overboard.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: VHF Radio with Digital Selective Calling (DSC)

The VHF radio with DSC is the most common emergency marine communications device, and with good reason: It’s simple to operate, communications go both ways, and when a boater hits the panic button, the U.S. Coast Guard will automatically know who the boater is.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Boating Emergency Preparedness

A boating emergency can happen anytime, anywhere — and does not only refer to a problem with the vessel, but also to any dangerous situation involving a passenger.

NSBC BoatBeat Blog: Boating Preparedness Recommendations

At a minimum, a boater should make sure that safety and other related equipment are on their vessel and in good working condition before each outing.

Cold-Water Boating

Cold-water immersion is the cause of many boating-related fatalities. The danger increases as water temperature decreases below normal body temperature (98.6o F).

Choosing the Right Life Jacket

No matter what the activity or style chosen, the most important thing is this: Remember to be responsible and always wear your life jacket while boating.

Inflatable Life Jacket Factsheet and FAQs

Inflatable life jackets rely on CO2 cylinders that provide buoyancy when inflated vs. inherently buoyant life jackets that use foam or other buoyant materials to stay afloat.

New Life Jacket Labels Explained

You may see a new label on the inside of new life jackets with a performance level icon. This fact sheet explains what the new information means and how it affects existing life jackets.

Life Jacket Facts

Most boaters know they’re required to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket on board for every person on their boat. Boating safety advocates recommend that all boaters and passengers not only have a life jacket, but wear it at all times while boating.

Boating Safety Tips

A great list of 13 boating safety tips from the National Boating Safety Council.

Recreational Boating Safety Facts from the NSBC

All figures are from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2019 Recreational Boating Safety Statistics, the latest official record of reported recreational boating accidents