According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 556 boating fatalities and 2,170 non-fatal injuries occurred nationwide in 2024. The most common vessels involved in these reported incidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft, and cabin motorboats. Where vessel type was known, those with the highest percentage of deaths were open motorboats (46 percent); paddle craft, including kayaks and standup paddleboards (26 percent); and pontoons (8 percent).
Where the cause of death was known, 76 percent of fatal boating incident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims, 87 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Most boating incidents occur in ideal conditions—calm waters, light wind, and good visibility. These conditions contribute to individuals not wearing life jackets because they feel the risk of ending up in the water is low.
The American Red Cross offers the following safety tips for life jackets:
Select the appropriate type of life jacket for the activity.
2. Look for the U. S. Coast Guard approval stamp.
3. Check the size and weight label to ensure that it will fit the user.
4. Inspect buckles and straps for proper function and discard any life jackets with torn fabric or loose straps.
5. A life jacket should fit snugly. To test the fit on a child, lift the child by the shoulders of the life jacket. If the life jacket fits, the child’s chin and ears will not slip through. If possible, place children in the water to test the fit of the life jacket.
Click here for additional information on how to select, wear, and care for life jackets.