MAILBAG - July 16, 2006

Boaters must remember to act safely

It was with a sense of inevitability that I read the article in the July 5 Daily Pilot regarding a man drowning in the Back Bay while kayaking (“Man drowns at Back Bay”). I am a recreational canoer and kayak paddler, have served on the board of directors of the American Canoe Assn., and as a facilitator have helped with planning for the National Safe Boating Council and National Assn. of State Boating Law Administrators. I know the jarring statistic: “Nearly 70% of all drownings involving canoes, kayaks or rafts might have been avoided if the victim had been wearing a lifejacket.” (“Wear It! Lifejackets Matter,” American Canoe Assn.)

I have canoed and kayaked Newport Bay, and have been dismayed at the number of people on kayaks or in other types of open boats that are not wearing a PFD (personal flotation device) or lifejacket. Worse yet, is to see children with parents in a canoe or kayak and although the children may be wearing a lifejacket (and even some children do not have one on), the parents are not. Everyone in a paddle craft should be wearing a lifejacket ? without exception. Just as flight attendants tell parents to put on their oxygen mask before you help children with theirs, an adult is no help to the child if he/she is struggling in the water.

It makes no difference what your swimming skill is, the chance of drowning if you do not wear a lifejacket is significantly higher than if you do wear one. No rental livery should rent a kayak without requiring that everyone in the boat be wearing a lifejacket. No one should be paddling on any part of Newport Bay, or any California waters, without having and wearing a properly fitting PFD/lifejacket. The Back Bay may look placid, but drowning can occur in any type of water. Paddle sport is great recreation and wonderful exercise, but only if you are a safe boater ? and safe boating starts with wearing a lifejacket.

JEROLD D. KAPPEL

Newport Beach

Time for city to outlaw fireworks

Apparently, the Daily Pilot and Costa Mesa Fire Battalion Chief Keith Fujimoto were not near Costa Mesa on the Fourth of July to see all the illegal fireworks in the air (“120 arrests, but quiet Fourth”).

In our neighborhood, it was Disneyland and World War III combined. My son, who lives in another Costa Mesa neighborhood, reported the same activity there. It is definitely time for Costa Mesa to outlaw all fireworks before we have a major fire.

LINDA HARRISON

Costa Mesa