Last year was a difficult one for everyone to get through, so much so the flip of the calendar to a new year brought with it a great deal of relief and certainly more hope than 2020 ever offered.
Everyone spent a tremendous amount of energy trying to stay one step or more ahead of a virus that was in hot pursuit of warm bodies to invade. We heard the warnings: The virus' impact was unpredictable and potentially deadly. Every day, in addition to the usual difficulties in life, we all had to endure the avoidance strategies necessary to reduce the risk of catching covid-19.
Who knew other dangers lurked? Who knew a worldwide pandemic could, say, get you injured or killed in a boating crash?
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission says the number of boating accidents in the Natural State doubled the number from 2019, and to some degree, the agency says, covid-19 is to blame.
In early March, the agency reported 2020 included 75 boating accidents representing $297,274 in property damage, 35 injuries requiring treatment beyond first-aid care and 13 deaths. In 2019, the number of injuries requiring medical attention was only nine, while 10 people lost their lives in boating accidents in 2019.
So what's covid-19 got to do with any of this? Game and Fish Commission officials believe the increases are the result of more people boating last year as Arkansans and visitors looked for entertainment outdoors.
"With all of those additional boaters, we knew we would likely see an increase in accidents," said Capt. Stephanie Weatherington, the agency's boating law administrator. "When you add the fact that a lot of these added vessels were piloted by new boaters, it clearly had an impact. Operator inexperience was listed as the most common primary cause of accidents last year."
As with covid, prevention efforts pay dividends. Wearing life jackets and completing boater education courses are major ways to reduce the chances of involvement in a boat accident.
As temperatures warm and Arkansas makes its way into boating season, awareness and preparation are key to making sure summer 2021 isn't just an accident waiting to happen.