Retirees over-represented in boating fatalities
Safety plea to older boaties after an increase in the number of fatalities on NSW waterwaysOn NSW waterways, people aged 70 and older account for more than 20 per cent of fatalities, yet they only hold nine per cent of all boat licences.
Alarmed by the stats, the Centre for Maritime Safety in NSW is now urging older boaties to exercise caution. It's also created a downloadable brochure titled On the water 65Plus - Staying safe and independent.
Director of the Centre for Maritime Safety, Michael Drake, said the changing age profile of the boating population requires the adoption of specific responses. These include improved accessibility of waterways and targeted education around potential risks and issues facing older boaters.
"In NSW, we have some of the best waterways in Australia and each year more than two million people head out on the water to enjoy the sun, catch a few fish or to spend time with family and friends," Mr Drake said.
"Last financial year, we had the lowest waterway boating toll for more than 40 years. However, one life lost is one too many and three of the nine fatal incidents this year [2018 in NSW] have involved seniors."
SENIOR BOATER SAFETY CAMPAIGNS
As our population ages, there's an increasing proportion of retirees with more time for leisure activities, including boating, which is leading to the increase in on-water incidents.
To make boating safer, the Centre for Maritime Safety and Roads and Maritime Services encourages people to trade in damaged or old-style lifejackets in exchange for new slimline models, which can be worn in comfort for the duration of a typical day out in a boat, via its Old4New mobile lifejacket-promotion program.
"Our safety campaigns have helped raise the lifejacket wear rate from nine per cent 10 years ago, to 45 per cent, and have driven an ongoing decline in the long-term rate of fatal incidents," Mr Drake said.
"We ask seniors to always wear a lifejacket on the water because it helps buy valuable time following immersion and doubles the chance of survival."
The Seniors Festival Expo 2018 is part of the NSW Seniors Festival, which celebrates and recognises seniors for the contribution they make to the NSW community.
More information and boating-safety tips for seniors at On the water 65Plus.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
