wearing a life jacket can save your lifeJust like a safety belt can’t save you unless you buckle up, the same goes for a life vest: If you are not wearing it, it can’t save your life.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s 2018 Recreational Boating Statistics Report indicates that, where the cause of death could be determined, 77 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned. And of those whose life jacket use could be determined, 84 percent were not wearing one.

According to the Coast Guard, almost half of those deaths resulted from falls overboard; next most numerous were deaths resulting from swamping or flooding. You might have an instant to grab a life jacket in the second category, but not the first. Having life jackets aboard isn’t enough – you need to wear them.

Maybe you’re a strong swimmer. But those skills fade quickly amid fatigue, cold water and waves. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, two-thirds of drowning victims in 2018 were described as good swimmers. If you receive a head injury that knocks you unconscious, though, how well you swim won’t matter.

When going out on a charter boat, be sure to always ask where the life jackets are stored. Same goes for a private boat. Or carry your own along with you. Knowledge is half the battle.

Boating is typically a fun day out on the water, but you never know when an accident may happen. Being prepared and wearing a flotation device will preserve you for your next trip out. Be responsible and put your life jacket on.