STATE BOATING OFFICIALS URGE CAUTION OPERATING PERSONAL WATERCRAFT DURING BUSY SUMMER MONTHS COLUMBUS, OH - State watercraft officials urge Ohio's boating community to take extra caution when operating or boating near personal watercraft during the busy summer months, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). "We've recently seen a significant number of boating accidents involving personal watercraft," said Todd Doncyson, law enforcement administrator for the ODNR Division of Watercraft. "It is especially important for boaters to be vigilant during the peak of Ohio's boating season." Doncyson noted that personal watercraft accidents often involve people who lack required training and sufficient experience to handle the jet-propelled crafts. Recent injury-causing accidents on the Ohio River, Great Miami River and East Fork Lake involved boat operators who did not have required boater education training. The ODNR Division of Watercraft reports that 28 percent of the 191 boating accidents reported in Ohio last year involved personal watercraft. Broken bones and lacerations are the most frequent types of injuries sustained in accidents involving personal watercraft. "Injuries tend to be more severe in personal watercraft accidents when compared to those involving other types of watercraft. People involved in personal watercraft accidents generally range in age from 12 to 30 years old," said Doncyson. Ohio law requires that any person born on or after January 1, 1982 must successfully complete a boater education course that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators before they operate a boat powered by more than 10 horsepower. Children under age 12 are not permitted to operate a personal watercraft. Persons ages 12-16 can operate a personal watercraft if they have a supervising adult 18 years of age or older aboard the vessel and who has also obtained a boater education course certification. By getting the required training and proper experience, boaters can enhance their safe enjoyment of recreational boating activities. Additional information on safe boating tips, boating laws and other boating programs is available from the ODNR web page at Ohiodnr.com and by calling the Division of Watercraft toll-free at 1-877-4BOATER (1-877-426-2837).
Source: ODNR
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