Andrew Austin: Remember to wear life jacket

THE reminder by Hawke's Bay Regional Council's harbourmaster for boaties to wear life jackets is timely with summer holidays almost upon us.
In a Talking Point opinion piece in this paper last week, the harbourmaster, Phil Norman, said that as far as he was concerned there was nothing more distressing than listening to a TV or radio report of a boating accident and hearing the words: "The victim was not wearing a life jacket".
Mr Norman does not hold back in the well-written piece, bluntly stating that if boaties have not got the message yet then "perhaps it's time to sell your boat to someone who will use it more wisely ..... drowning is neither staunch nor manly."
It is amazing that many people think they are exempted from safety requirements on boats. At various spots on our coastline, I have seen boats with a number of people on board not wearing life jackets. Sure, life jackets are not the most comfortable things to wear, but it is better to be safe than sorry.
There was no better illustration of the importance of life jackets than an incident this month in which three men were rescued from cold, choppy seas near Pania Reef off Napier.
An early morning fishing expedition ended with their boat being overturned as they tried to haul the anchor up. The good news is that all three men were wearing their life jackets, which undoubtedly saved their lives.
If only more boaties followed their example and made sure they and everyone else on their boat was wearing life jackets. I suppose it all starts with educating children and it was good to read that Mr Norman has started a boating safety course for Hawke's Bay primary schools to strengthen that knowledge.
Life jackets serve a purpose - they save lives.