Which of The Following Is The Major Cause of Fatalities Involving Small Vessels?

Which of the following is the major cause of fatalities involving small vessels?

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Which of the following is the major cause of fatalities involving small vessels?

Select the option that represents a major cause of deaths on board a small vessel:

• Bad weather 
• Excessive drinking 
• Mechanical failures on the vessel
• Drowning from falls overboard
• None of the above 

Answer: Drowning from falls overboard represents a major cause of fatality involving small vessels.

Most boating accidents happen towards the end of the day when there is less visibility and drinking may result in bad judgments on the part of those on a boat.

Drowning 

Unlike car accidents or accidents on land, any boat accident can result in someone drowning.

This is particularly true if someone is badly injured in an accident.

Not only must they deal with injuries caused by the accident but they must also deal with the possibility of drowning.

Drowning from falls overboard a small vessel is one major cause of death.

As a result, it’s crucial to follow the safety rules and guidelines onboard a small vessel to ensure that everyone is safe.

Capsizing 

Capsizing is perhaps the number one cause of boating accidents and fatalities.

If your boat capsizes, it’s important that you stay with the boat.

Oftentimes, the boat will float upside down.

By staying near the boat, not only you have something to hang on to but you also increase your chances of being rescued as the boat will be visible from the air or by nearby boats.

Another way a boat can capsize is due when the anchoring was done to the stern of the boat.

If you anchor your small vessel to the stern, you increase the risk of the boat capsizing.

Small boats have their outboard motor, gas tank, and batter all in the stern. 

If you anchor your boat to the stern, the improper weight distribution on the boat can cause a sudden “freak wave” swamping the boat. 

Falling Overboard

After capsizing, the second most common cause of fatalities involving a small vessel is a fall overboard.

Many accidents where someone falls overboard happen when the boat is moored at when it’s at anchor.

Here are some of the reasons why someone may fall overboard:

• Moving around without holding on to something
• Standing without having support 
• Sitting on sideboards
• Sitting on gunwales 
• Someone falling when the boat takes a turn

Improper Loading

There are also many instances where fatalities are caused involving a small vessel as there was improper loading or the overloading of the boat.

It’s crucial to keep small vessels stable.

If the weight distribution is uneven, improper, or there’s too much load on the boat, the boat will be affected.

Takeaways 

Let’s look at a summary of our findings.

Which of the following is the major cause of fatalities involving small vessels?:

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