13 people, who drowned in 2017, might be alive today if they had been wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid, according to this year’s Casualty Review Panel. The panel meets annually to discuss the previous year’s appropriate maritime fatalities and whether those who died might have survived had they been wearing a lifejacket.
Wearing a lifejacket or buoyancy aid improves your chances of surviving the shock of entering cold water. This year they looked at 27 fatalities and of these 13 might have been saved if they had been wearing a lifejacket.
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People who have been drinking alcohol are more possible to be involved in a fatal accident. In 2017, 14 of the 27 fatalities had been drinking – accessing boats in harbour was a particular issue.
Over recent years many harbours have introduced lifejacket lockers so people using tenders can store lifejackets in a secure way while they are ashore, and the panel strongly recommended boat users to use them.
Carrying a means of raising the alarm and knowing how and when to use it is crucial in an emergency, making a real difference in survivability rates. In 2017, two people’s lives might have been saved had they had a means of communication, to tell the Coastguard where to search. In particular the panel recommended:
- Carrying a vhf DSC radio and knowing how to use it to contact the Coastguard or other vessels;
- Carrying a PLB or EPIRB will help rescuers to locate you and even if you’re unconscious the alarm will be raised;
- Downloading the RYA SafeTrx app on your phone and using it in an emergency could make all the difference.
