Life jackets, also called personal flotation devices (PFDs), are classified into five types based on water conditions and use. Each type provides buoyancy to help keep a person afloat and improve survival in the water. Every year, there are deaths out on the water that…
Capsize means a boat overturns, flipping onto its side or upside down in the water. This is often caused by strong waves, improper weight distribution, wind, or sudden movement onboard. Note that capsizing is different from swamping, where water fills the boat without overturning. With…
Boating under the influence (BUI) is the term for operating a vessel while impaired by alcohol or drugs. Similar to a DUI, the legal limit for a BUI is generally a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08%. Being impaired on the water is highly dangerous…
Memorial Day weekend produces more boating fatalities than almost any other weekend of the year. According to the USCG Recreational Boating Statistics, May, June, and July consistently rank as the deadliest months on the water — and the U.S. Coast Guard widely recognizes Memorial Day…
National Safe Boating Week 2026 is May 16–22, marking the annual, official kickoff of the Safe Boating Campaign just before Memorial Day weekend. The campaign promotes safe, responsible boating, emphasizing the importance of wearing life jackets, checking safety gear, and taking a boater education course.
