In the last five years, paddlers have come to represent 55 percent of statewide recreational boating fatalities.
In an effort to create a culture of safety around paddle sports, Gov. Jay Inslee has issued a proclamation declaring the week of July 22-28 to be statewide Paddle Safe Week.
The campaign recognizes that Washington’s diverse waterways require different skills, preparation and safety equipment.
“Paddle Safe Week is a great opportunity to help reduce paddle sports-related fatalities by sharing resources and educating the community on how to recreate safely,” Boating Program Manager Rob Sendak said. “Paddlers should know that kayaks, canoes and stand-up paddleboards are subject to boating laws and regulations.”
Sendak urges all participants to boat responsibly to prevent incidents, minimize collisions and avoid conflicts with other boaters.
The Washington State Parks Boating Program maintains a collection of free digital safety resources and information for paddlers. The sources can be accessed at parks.wa.gov. However, the single, most important way to paddle safely is to always wear a life jacket on the water.
State law requires all vessels, including canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, to have at least one properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Participants under the age of 12 are required to wear the life jacket at all times, but paddlers of all ages and even those with strong swimming skills are encouraged to wear a life jacket, due to the unpredictable nature of the sport.
The Recreational Boating Safety Program also recommends getting educated by attending classes through local clubs, outfitters, and city or county parks and recreation departments. Along with getting educated, the program encourages using leashes to stay tethered to the paddleboard for extra flotation and a chance to stay alive when falling in. For stand-up paddlers, a leash is a necessity.
A list of essential boating equipment can be found at parks.wa.gov. The program recommends that paddlers check and understand the weather, protect against cold water shock by wearing a life jacket, create a float plan or route, paddle with a group, avoid drugs and alcohol, learn how to self rescue, label paddle crafts and be visible to other boaters.
The Recreational Boating Safety Program has spent the last three years running educational programs for youth across the state to teach kayaking and water safety skills to the next generation. During that time, more than 1,200 kids have participated, taking away safety lessons and a life jacket of their own to keep. The program, funded in part by a No Child Left Inside grant, represents a partnership with local organizations. Regions with high incident data are prioritized for this program, which aims to use early education to reduce long-term boating related fatalities.
