Officials Urge Use Of Life Jackets

Posted About Three Weeks Ago by 24/7 News Source

(Portland, OR) -- Officials are reminding residents of the importance of wearing a life jacket while enjoying local waterways. The Army Corp of Engineers tells KATU-2 that everyone should wear a life jacket while boating, fishing and swimming, even if they consider themselves a strong swimmer. Army Corp of Engineers public affairs specialist Tom Conning says people often overestimate their swimming ability in open water and that "men are especially arrogant about their swimming abilities and strength." Conning says grown men make up about 88-percent of drowning victims and that 89-percent of all drowning victims were not wearing life jackets at the time of their death.