b'U.S. COAST GUARDU.S. COAST GUARD U.S. Coast Guard Reports Fewest Boating Fatalities in More Than 50 YearsT he U.S. Coast Guard releasedboating accidents in 2024, account- andnavigationrulesrankedasthe its 2024 Recreational Boatingingfor92deaths,or20percentoftop five primary contributing factors Statistics Report which record- total fatalities. in accidents.ed the fewest boating fatalities since the Service began collecting statisticsThe fatality rate was 4.8 deaths perDeathsoccurredpredominantlyon more than 50 years ago. 100,000registeredrecreationalves- vesselsoperatedbyindividualswho sels,a2percentdecreasefromlasthadnotreceivedboatingsafetyin-Fatalities fell 1.4 percent to 556 fromyears rate of 4.9 deaths per 100,000.struction,accountingforroughly 564 in 2023, while overall incidentsIn 1971, when the Safe Boating Act70 percent of fatalities. Open motor-increased by 1.1 percent from 3,844wasfirstpassed,theratewas20.6boats, personal watercraft, and cabin to 3.887. Nonfatal injuries increaseddeathsper100,000.Propertydam- motorboats were the vessel types most 2.1percentfrom2,126to2,170.age totaled $88 million, and operatorinvolved in reported incidents. Alcohol continued to be the leadinginattention, improper lookout, oper-knowncontributingfactorinfatalator inexperience, machinery failureTherewasanincreaseindeathson standup paddleboards. Drowning ac-counted for three-quarters of deaths, with 87 percent of victims not wear-inglifejackets.TheCoastGuard remindsboaterstowearserviceable, properly sized, and correctly fastened life jackets, and encourages boaters to checktheweatherandwatercondi-tions before getting underway.The data in the report is based on in-cidents that resulted in at least one of thefollowing:death,disappearance, injurythatrequiredmedicaltreat-ment beyond first aid, damage to the vessel(s), or other property equal to or greater than $2,000 or a loss of vessel.In addition to wearing a life jacket and takingaboatingsafetycourse,the Coast Guard recommends all boaters attach the engine cutoff switch, get a free vessel safety check and boat sober.Thefull2024RecreationalBoat-ingStatisticsReportisavailableat USCGBoating.org.FOGHORN 54'