WHY MEN DROWN

Men hold the distinction of drowning in boat related incidents at a greater rate than women. Why? Well one reason could be that men tend to be alone in boats more often. Many drown by falling overboard. When a man is in a boat he usually stands up for one of two reasons. The first is to cast or retrieve a line during fishing. The other has to do with what is called " the call of nature". It has been reported in various boating publications that a good 50% of men who drown are pulled out of the water with their fly unzipped. I know, it sounds funny, but it is deadly serious.

Another consideration is that in cooler weather , men tend to wear heavy clothing while fishing. When submerged heavy clothing, if you panic, can quickly soak up water making it almost impossible to stay afloat. Those who are not good swimmers will immediately get into trouble by trying to call for help while under water. The following tips will help in the successful completion of a fishing trip regardless if any fish are caught.

Never go fishing alone.

Tell someone where you plan to fish and when you plan to return.

Wear a Coast Guard approved PFD floating devise for fishing while in the boat.

Know where you are at all times on the boat. Don't get so caught up in the fishing experience that you loose your place.

If you find yourself in the water, stay calm. When submerged heavy clothing or waders can provide flotation. Bending the knees will trap air in waders, providing flotation. Air pockets in clothing can also help you stay afloat. Do not thrash about or try to remove clothing or footwear. Keep your knees bent, float on your back and paddle slowly to safety

Do not drink alcohol while in the boat.

Carry an empty jug onboard to be used " when nature calls". Besides being much safer it it also more considerate and polite.