HHS HealthBeat (July 18, 2008)

What the well-dressed boater wears

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Boating doesn’t require designer clothes. It might not require much in the way of clothing at all. But the well-dressed boater is never without a vest. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Julie Gilchrist has today’s fashion tip:

"Anyone going out on any type of boat, regardless of the distance they’re traveling or how developed their swimming skills are, should wear a life jacket, sometimes referred to as a personal flotation device, or PFD." (10 seconds)

Gilchrist says that, of all the people who drowned in boating incidents in 2006, only one in 10 had been wearing a life jacket. And life jackets come in more comfortable styles than ever.

Gilchrist adds that you should also avoid alcohol, which impairs judgment, balance, and coordination – and take a course in boating safety.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: July, 21 2008