This episode takes a look at how we employ the availability heuristic or in easier terms availability bias -- a mental shortcut we use based on a much more powerful and vivid, or immediately available example, stories or experiences to judge the imaginability or the probability of something happening to us, or others, rather than what the data bears out.

Between the Waves

Processing Risk

A discussion about the National Water Safety Action Plan and the Working Group on Life Jackets/PFDs/and other Floatation Devices. Find more details at www.watersafetyusa.org/nwsap

The PLAN

On this episode we discuss some of the hidden gems of HR 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 Act, that have a direct impact on the recreational boating safety.

Golden Nuggets of the National Defense Bill of 2021

Oxygen - The Wonder Drug

The episode explores the neuroplasticity of the human brain and why the boating environment creates a beginner's gauntlet to become a safe and successful boater.

Neuroplasticity of the Brain and Boating

As many in the recreational boating and outdoor communities initiate their "R3" programs, hoping to recruit, retain and reactivate boaters and outdoor enthusiast, is the need for swimming lessons being addressed? Do swim lessons address a foundational barrier to boating and other outdoor activities?

Swimming Lessons A Cornerstone of R3

In 2019, the United States Coast Guard indicated in its annual statistics report that the most likely injury to be sustained by an accident victim was lacerations with over 593 occupants receiving one followed closely behind by broken bones at 472. Most lacerations occur on the head or the legs. In this episode we will explore the topics of seatbelts, and airbags, and their potential use in the marine environment.

Seatbelts and Airbags...Why not?

Every year, the recreational boating market is flooded with the newest ideas and innovations in technology, which oftentimes may not have gone through the rigorous testing cycle that the consumer expected. Consumers often believe that if a product is available on the shelves, or brought to the market, that is must be reasonably safe. This episode discusses a number of items that have the recreational boating community perplexed, as well as tapping into a national approach that may be needed to help alleviate some of these issues.

When Good Intentions Create Bad Outcomes

Quick Note on HR 3409 USCG Reauthorization Act of 2020

HR 3409 USCG Reauthorization Act of 2020

While the world continues to address the global pandemic of COVID-19 one small piece of safety equipment is getting a lot of attention. The face mask and its recommended use by the Centers for Disease Control has become a perfect testbed for us to study in how to address life jacket and engine cut-off switch wear. Many correlations can be drawn and we should do our part to recognize those correlations and use them to advance our efforts.

Wear It

In this final episode of the series, Alex Otte shares one of the key findings from the Boating Under the Influence Report and Dashboard. Research shows that the compounding risk of alcohol consumption in an on-water environment indicates that a person is more impaired on a boat than they would be on land with the same amount of alcohol in the same amount of time. The increased risk is present for everyone on a vessel, regardless of what their role is. People who are willing to engage in one type of risky behavior are more likely to engage in other types of risk behavior, too. Individuals who partake in alcohol consumption in an aquatic setting are statistically less likely to wear life jackets, and more likely to swim alone or in unsupervised areas. The relative risk of death is similar for operators and passengers and increases for both groups as BAC increases.

Compounding Risk

In this fourth episode of the series, Alex Otte shares one of the key findings from the Boating Under the Influence Report and Dashboard. The expectation carried by much of the public is that as long as a person stays below the legal limit, 0.08 percent, that there are not at risk of impairment. Although there have been many studies to indicate the falsehood in that idea, claiming that impairment can occur at any blood alcohol content level upon a departure from 0.0 percent, this is of particular interest to the boating community. Given the compounding environmental stressors of an on-water setting, to include sun, heat, wind and the motion of the vessel, impairment can occur at a much lower blood alcohol concentration. Because low BAC’s present greatly increasing relative risk in an on-water situation, alcohol use may actually be more hazardous on a boat than in other settings

Buzzed Boating is Drunk Boating

In this third episode of the series, Alex Otte shares one of the key findings from the Boating Under the Influence Report and Dashboard. This finding addresses the research pertaining to the prevalence of alcohol-involved drownings, specifically within the adult male population. In 2011, two-thirds of reported drowning deaths occurred in people aged 15 and over. Almost 50 percent of all drownings that year occurred in males older than 15. The higher rates of male exposure to aquatic environments is compounded by high risk behaviors such as swimming alone, not wearing a personal flotation devices (PFD) when boating or swimming, and alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol usage is likely to contribute to poor risk assessment and decision-making in recreational aquatic activity.

Male Drinking and Drowning

In this introduction to the series, Alex Otte recounts the events that led her to develop a passion for boating under the influence enforcement and prevention. When Otte was 13 years old, she was sitting on a jet ski behind her father’s house on Lake Herrington in Danville, Kentucky, when she was struck by a bass boat at a high rate of speed. It was quickly discovered that the operator of that vessel and his passenger were under the influence of alcohol. Otte was airlifted to the hospital where she remained in critical condition. The offender was given a small fine.

Alex Otte’s Story

In this second episode of the series, Alex Otte shares one of the key findings from the Boating Under the Influence Report and Dashboard. A gap identified in the research is that of consistent alcohol testing in boating incidents and full reporting on these incidents. The proportion of recreational boating accidents that are alcohol related needs to be statistically determined, and inadequate reporting leaves researchers with an unclear picture of widespread impairment on our nation’s waterways.

Inadequate Reporting of Alcohol Involvement

An audio series to discuss topics important to today&#039;s water safety professionals.

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Between the Waves

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