Diver Injured in Georgia’s St. Catherine’s Sound

TYBEE ISLAND, GA- Abcnews4.com writes that a 65-year-old SCUBA diver was injured in a diving accident in the St. Catherine’s Sound. The US Coast Guard responded to the scene in the late morning this week. The victim was on a 25-foot vessel, which rescue workers were lowered to from a helicopter.*

Reports stated that it is important for boaters to always have communications equipment on board to contact the Coast Guard is the experience an emergency. 

The nature of the accident and the condition of the victim were not included in the reports. 

Boating is a popular activity for many Americans. However, water recreation can be extremely dangerous and may lead to injuries or death if people are not cautious. In 2017, 4,291 boat incidents were reported to the US Coast Guard. Those incidents led to 2,629 injuries, and cost 658 people their lives. 

Most boating deaths are the result of drownings. The best way to stay safe and prevent such deaths is to use a life jacket. Even strong swimmers should use life jackets because accidents can incapacitate individuals, making it impossible for them to swim. Of those killed in drownings, 84 percent were not using personal floatation devices. 

Proper preparation can prevent tragedies. The National Safety Council states that the US Coast Guard performs free vessel safety checks to ensure that individuals’ boats are in good working order. Having tools and first-aid kits before setting out is also a must. 

Common sense is also important, and all boaters should be sure to have water, refrain from consuming alcohol, and keep track of potential weather hazards such as storms and high winds. 

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or a family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Sources:

https://abcnews4.com/news/local/coast-guard-rescues-unresponsive-65-year-old-diver-off-st-catherines-sound-in-georgia

https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/tools-resources/seasonal-safety/summer/boating