LIVINGSTON, LA. (BRPROUD) — Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries along with members of MADD Louisiana stressed the importance of having a plan before drinking on a boat.
Nicholas Firman of the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Forest Division says the department stresses safety when out on the water to prevent fatalities. Firman says, “We’ve had ten fatalities last year out here, seven of those we feel could have been prevented.”
Next week is Safe Boating Week which aims to bring awareness during the Memorial Day weekend.
“Within the last four years we’ve had 116 boating fatalities out here in Louisiana, of those 97% either didn’t have a life jacket on, and about 21% of that involved alcohol,” says Firman.
May is National Water Safety Month. LDH found that “drowning was the third leading cause of injury-related death in children ages 0-14 for the 2017-2019 period, according to the most recent Louisiana Child Death Review Report from the Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Bureau of Family Health.”
Firmin talked about how “the beginning of boating season, everyone is eager to get out here.” “A lot of times we may see a violation before we even stop them,” said Firmin.
Firmin says that for a first offense, fines can range from $600 to $1000 and six months in prison.
According to one member of MADD Louisiana, Caitlin Comardelle, she lost her sister, Audrey Higgins, to a drunk driver over the 4th of July weekend in 2020.
After the accident, the family decided to create a Facebook page, to create awareness. “When you think of drinking and driving I want everyone to think of the victims,” says Comardelle, “think about all the people who it actually harms in long run.”
Law enforcement and members of MADD say if you plan on drinking, have a plan before getting behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.
For more boating and safety tips before heading out on the water, click here.
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