The 2015 boating season kicks off Saturday, bringing with it festivities, traffic alerts, and the need for increased boater safety.
Washington state has one of the highest rates of registered boats in the U.S., which means many people will be on the water this weekend.
Opening Day means races, parade on Montlake Cut
Boating season kicks off with a ceremony at Montlake Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by crew races from 10 a.m. to noon in Union Bay and Montlake Cut and a parade.
Montlake Bridge will be closed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the festivities, as will the westbound State Route 520 off ramp to Montlake Boulevard Northeast and the left-turn lane from eastbound SR 520 to Montlake Boulevard.
Approximately 4,500 people are expected to line the cut for the races and parade.
Staying safe on the water
May is the most deadly month for boaters, as the opening of boating season brings more people onto the water, but the early part of the season also brings an increased risk for drowning. With temperatures expected to reach the high 60s, it's easy to forget that water temperatures remain cold.
Not only does this mean hypothermia sets in faster, but the low temps also increase the risk of cold water shock, which can lead to drowning or a heart attacked before hypothermia even occurs. Cold water shock often causes a person to hyperventilate and gasp. If that happens underwater, it jump starts the drowning process.
A life jacket, which is required by Washington law, can keep a person's head above water and prevent cold water shock. According to the Washington State Department of Health, 85% of boating-related drowning deaths could have been prevented if the person was wearing a life jacket.
Cold water exposure can lead to hypothermia, causing the body's core temperature drops and leading to death, while cold incapacitation, limits a person's ability to self-rescue as the body works to maintain its core temperature by reducing blood flow to hands and feet.
The sooner a person is pulled out of the cold water, the better.
