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What does the Data Tell Us?�Fatality Data and CSBC Wear Rate Study

Barbara Byers

Drowning Prevention Research Centre

CSBC Education Director

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Number and rate of recreational boating-related fatalities by year, Canada 2008-2017

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Number and rate of recreational boating-related fatalities by age group, Canada 2008-2017

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Recreational Boating-related Death Rates By Age Group, Canada 2008-2012 vs 2013-2017

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Boating Fatalities by Age

  • 91% of all boating fatalities are with adults 20 years and older
  • 9% of all fatalities are with youth under 19 years
  • The largest decreases in death rates occurred in the 15-19 age group

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Lifejackets and PFD Use

  • In 80% of recreational boating –related fatalities, a lifejacket or PFD was not worn

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Number and percent of recreational boating related fatalities by type and size of watercraft, Canada 2008-2017

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By size of watercraft

  • 88% of all fatalities are in vessels < 6 metres
  • 12% of all fatalities are in vessels > 6 metres

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By type of watercraft

  • 55% of all boating fatalites are with powered vessel
  • 45% of all fatalites are with unpowered vessels

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Summary

  • Deaths primarily occurred amongst adults 20+ years (91%)
  • Most deaths occurred amongst those in vessels under 6 metres in size (88%)
  • Most fatalities occurred in powered vessels (55%)
  • However a significant occurred in unpowered vessels (45%)

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Research that Floats (“RTF”)

Lifejacket Wear Research & Communication Effectiveness

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Objectives

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  • Create a lifejacket wear rate report of Canadian boaters on inland lakes.
  • Identify if a lifejacket wear public education /communication campaign can change lifejacket wear behaviour
  • Share the results broadly among boating safety stakeholders

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Observation Areas

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4 Lake Regions

      • Nipissing Lakes
      • Almaguin, Muskoka & Haliburton lakes
      • Lake Simcoe
      • Kawartha Lakes including Lake Scugog and Rice Lake

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Observation technique.

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Capturing the research data points

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Observation results

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Observation crew 

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Observation results

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Transferring data

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Observational Research Findings

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Wear rates for 2021 and 2022 with a focus on:

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  • Lifejacket wear rates by boat type and size

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  • Lifejacket wear rates by demographics

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Lifejacket wear by boater profile and boat type

BOATER PROFILE: LIFEJACKET WEAR STATUS

% of total boaters

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LIFEJACKET / PFD WEAR: BY BOAT TYPE

Wearing buoyant / inflatable: % of boaters by boat type

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Lifejacket wear by powerboaters – boat size and type

LIFEJACKET / PFD WEAR: BY TOTAL POWERBOATERS

% wearing lifejacket / PFD

Lifejacket / PFD wear (% of powerboaters)

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Lifejacket Wear on unpowered craft

LIFEJACKET / PFD WEAR: BY PADDLERS & SAILORS

% wearing lifejacket / PFD

Lifejacket / PFD wear (% of paddlers & sailors)

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Lifejacket /PFD status by boat type at time of observation

Base 2021, 2022: Total Paddlers (825, 837), Kayak (340, 383), Canoe (229, 223), SUP (199, 159), Other (57, 72), Total Sailors (311, 267), Small sailboat (161, 149), Large sailboat (150, 118)

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Lifejacket wear by Age

LIFEJACKET / PFD WEAR: BY AGE

% wearing lifejacket / PFD

Lifejacket / PFD wear % by age by boat type & age

(YOY change %*)

Power

boaters

Power

boaters excl. PWC

Paddlers

Sailors

21

18

(+1)

59

48

82 �(-4)

81

(-5)

100

(+9)

n/a

50

(+7)

48

(+8)

75

n/a

15

12

54

43

7

7

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n/a

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Lifejacket / PFD wear % across all boaters

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�Groups with the highest wear rate�

  • Sailors 46-48%
  • Kayakers 66-68%
  • Canoeists 61-67%
  • Those on PWCs 92- 98%
  • Children < 12 83-87%
  • Teens 48-54%

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Groups with the lowest wear-rate�

    • Powerboaters (ex PWC) 17-8%
    • Adults in powerboats (ex PWC) 15%
    • Seniors 9%

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Thank you!