A tragic boating accident on Norwich Lake in Huntington, Massachusetts last week resulted in the death of a 10-year-old boy.
Gus Adamopoulos of Ludlow and his father, James, were in their kayak last Tuesday in the early evening when they were hit by a boat pulling a water skier.
Gus was pronounced dead at an area hospital after being transported from the lake. His father sustained injuries to his leg but no further information on his medical condition was given.
The operator of the boat was a man from Westfield and neither his name nor the water-skier’s name was released.
With the school year right around the corner, Gus was preparing to enter 5th grade. School officials are organizing counseling services for students at the school once classes begin.
State and local police are continuing to investigate the incident and will determine whether or not charges are to be filed against the operator of the boat.
Summer is here for a little while longer, which means a lot of us will still be enjoying the weather and water. Here are the most common causes of boating accidents to be aware of if you venture out in your canoe, paddleboat, or just want to take a quick swim to your local lake’s raft.
Also, check out some of these tips on the best ways to keep you and your family safe as you make the most of the rest of summer.
More than 70 million people will be enjoying their boats this summer. To make it a safe and fun time, parents should really make sure their children wear a life jacket—the most important safety measure they can take. Nine out of ten people who drown each year were not wearing life jackets, according to the North American Safe Boating Campaign, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In addition to drowning, boating accidents can result in trauma, hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and other life-threatening conditions.
In addition to requiring all people on the boat to wear a life jacket, and not having alcohol on board, parents can also take part in a boating education course. Many boating accidents happen because the boat driver does not understand how to operate the boat or operates the boat recklessly or too fast.
An educational boating course can provide operating instructions and boating safety techniques similar to a car education class. The U.S. Coast Guard provides a free service called the Vessel Safety Check where volunteers check the boat’s equipment and provide training about boat safety procedures.
Boating accidents happen all the time, causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries. Boats can go missing and no one is the wiser. Searches fail because no one knows where to look.
An under-used tool, the Float Plan, can be a great boating safety device.
The American Boating Association defines a Float Plan as a safety document, “It contains the who, what, where, when and how of your outing or trip. Simply fill out the form before heading out on the water, print it, and leave it with a person who can be depended upon to notify the local police, sheriff, Coast Guard station or other rescue organization, should you not return as scheduled.”
For more information on boating safety, read our article on Boating: Making it Safer.
The United States Coast Guard has a boating safety initiative. Since many boating accidents are preventable, the Coast Guard reminds everyone to “Boat Responsibly!”
Some of the key components of the campaign remind boaters to:
- Get a free vessel safety check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Wear a life vest or jacket
- Don’t drink and boat
- Take a boating safety course
The slogan for their initiative, “Boat Responsibly” can be found on all of their printed materials as well as all over their website.
The initiative reminds boaters that ultimately they are responsible for the safety of themselves and their passengers. Additionally, boaters need to take responsibility for their actions while on the waterways.
For more information about boating safety, read our article Boating: Making it Safer.
