Drownings in NM are above national average. Officials say wear life jackets

New Mexico was well above the national average in the number of drownings per 100,000 people during a five-year period, according to a federal agency dedicated to promoting good health.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) tracked drownings across the U.S. from 2016 to 2020 and noted the drowning deaths per 100,000 people in the U.S. was 1.28, including boating-related drowning deaths.

New Mexico had 1.62 drowning deaths per 100,000 people during the reporting period, according to the CDC data.

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Drowning deaths in Texas, Arizona, Colorado and Utah were lower than New Mexico’s, according to the CDC. Drowning deaths in Oklahoma were higher than New Mexico’s with 1.77 drowning deaths per 100,000 people, per the CDC.

Every year there are over 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings, including boat-related drownings, per the CDC.

Boating safety matters in NM

The State Parks Division of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department (EMNRD), the National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) and law enforcement across the state want people to be safe by wearing a life jacket while boating on waters across New Mexico, read an EMNRD news release.

Manuel Overby, state parks chief of law enforcement and boating safety, said there have been four reported drownings in New Mexico this year.

He said winter snowmelts and recent rains have filled lakes and rivers across New Mexico to way above capacity. With Memorial Day and the summer vacation season approaching, Overby is expecting an increase in visitors to New Mexico State Parks.

“Accidents happen quickly and even strong swimmers can tire unexpectedly in cold water and unless you’re wearing your U.S. Coast Guard approved and properly sized and fitted personal flotation device, you can quickly find yourself in a precarious position, fighting to stay afloat,” he said.

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National Safe Boating Week allows boaters to prepare safety skills for being on the water, according to an NSBC website.

“This National Safe Boating Week, prepare for a great boating season by inspecting your boating safety gear and commit to providing comfortable life jackets for all your passengers to wear every time you go boating,” said Peg Phillips, executive director of NSBC.

Joby Houghtaling, president of the Pecos Valley BASS Masters, said the use of life jacket and boating safety are emphasized nearly five months before National Safe Boating Week as fishing tournaments start early.

“I send out our rules which include boat safety and life jackets as well as the guidelines set forth by the State of New Mexico about those things for safety items to have to be in your boat,” he said.

Houghtaling said fishing boats should have life jackets, a paddle, a bail bucket, a rope and flotation devices.

“What we tell our members is they have to follow the state’s guidelines or any state that we fish in, including all terms of safety measures and then we also have a rule in place that comes down through B.A.S.S at the state level which anytime our big motor is running we are required to wear our life vests fully snapped and zipped,” he said.

Houghtaling said B.A.S.S Masters members emphasize safety rules for younger anglers.

“Especially if we're on water, lakes and rivers that are low. That’s one of the safety things we talk about before we go out we remind everybody the lake level maybe low there maybe things they can’t see just out of the water. We encourage them not to play in the boat unless they are in the main channel,” he said.

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B.A.S.S Masters is an organization dedicated to promoting bass fishing and conservation, stated the organization's website.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities and 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Overby said New Mexico State law requires people born after Jan. 1, 1989, to take a safe a boating course.

“Courses are available or in person with one scheduled for June 26 at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State (in Carlsbad) in addition to many others,” he said.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 or by email at MSmith@currentargus.com or @ArgusMichae on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Officials say life jackets, safe boating saves lives