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BARRIERS TO LIFE JACKET USE AMONG ADULT RECREATIONAL BOATERS
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Mar 31 2014
Source: Inj Prev. 20(4):244-250. -
Alternative Title:Inj Prev
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Publisher's site:
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Personal Author:
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Description:Objective
To identify barriers to life jacket use.
Design
Cross-sectional survey.
Setting
Nine public boat ramps in western Washington State, USA, August-November, 2008.
Participants
675 adult boaters (>18 years) on motor boats <26 feet long.
Main outcome
Low or no life jacket use (0–50% of time) versus high life jacket use (51–100% of time).
Results
Low/no life jacket use (0%–50% of time) was associated with longer boat length (per foot, risk ratio [RR] 1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–1.05), alcohol use (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.01–1.20), perception of life jackets as “uncomfortable” (RR 1.29, 95%CI 1.09–1.52), perceived greater level of swimming ability (RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.03–1.53 for “expert swimmer”), and possibly with lack of confidence that a life jacket may save one from drowning (RR 1.13, 95%CI 0.96–1.32). Low life jacket use was less likely when a child was onboard (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.79–0.99), or if the respondent had taken a boating safety class (RR 0.94, 95% CI 0.87–1.01).
Conclusions
Life jacket use may increase with more comfortable devices, such as inflatable life jackets, and with increased awareness of their efficacy in preventing drowning. Boater education classes may be associated with increased life jacket use among adults.
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Subject:
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Pubmed ID:24686261
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC4310692
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[PDF-273.89 KB]
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