National Safe Boating Week is May 20-26: Don’t stow your life jacket: Wear it!

The simple pleasure of a summer boat ride can turn sour quickly with unexpected dangers.

Collisions, capsizing, and falls overboard are some of the more dangerous incidents that account for the 4,400 boating-related accidents and 700 deaths each year.

Among all the factors that figure into the 2,600 injuries per year — including alcohol use, leaving the boat voluntarily, high speeds, and machinery failure — there is one that figures into 83 percent of deaths: Not wearing a life jacket.

Safe boating advocates say the single most important thing you can do to prevent death and injury is to wear the jacket.

Some safe boating tips:

• Be weather-wise. Sudden winds, lightning flashes, and choppy water can mean a storm is brewing. Bring a portable radio to check the weather.
• Bring the extra gear in a container that floats, including a flashlight, extra batteries, matches, a map, flares, sunscreen, and extra sunglasses.
• Tell someone where you are going, who is with you, and how long you will be away.
• Check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine, and fuel supply. Never overload your boat.
• Ventilate after fueling. Open the hatches, run the blower, and sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas before starting the engine.
• In a small boat, keep fishing and hunting gear well-packed. Bring an extra line to secure the boat or equipment.
• Stay warm and dry. Bring a waterproof covering. Never wear hip waders in a small boat.
• Be ready for higher-powered boats to pass you. Stay on your side of the channel and maintain a steady speed.
• Anchor from the bow, not the stern. Use anchor line length at least five times longer than the water depth.

Taking a safe boating course has long-lasting benefits. When you complete a course, you could earn lower boat insurance costs. In 75 percent of boating deaths in 2021, the operator completed no safety instructions.