Virginia Water Safety Coalition

  Water Safety Resource Kit

Personal Watercraft

Introduction

Since 1990, personal watercraft (PWC) use in the United States has increased by an estimated 400%.  In 1996, there were approximately 900,000 PWC's in use.

PWC's are approximately 8 feet long and are powered by self-contained engines with an enclosed propeller that uses pressured water for thrust.  Current models can reach top speeds of 70 miles per hour.  Most models are designed to accommodate 2 to 3 passengers.  A PWC cannot be steered when the engine is off, even though momentum may still carry the PWC forward.

Regulations for PWC operation vary from state to state.  Each state has a designated State Boating Law Administration that is responsible for legislation

Injury Experience and Severity

Nationally, since 1990 there has been a four-fold increase in injuries associated with PWC.  In 1995, an estimated 12, 290 persons were treated in hospital emergency departments.

In 1997, 22% of the PWC-related injuries in the United States occurred to youth under the age of 18.  Of those injured children, 46% were PWC operators and 27% were passengers.

PWC-related nonfatal injuries to operators of all ages included lacerations and contusions.  The most frequent injuries occur to the leg (34.4%), head (29.1%), and the lower trunk (12.5%).

Blunt trauma is the leading cause of fatalities among PWC operators and passengers.

Risk Factors

Inexperience, excessive speed, and careless maneuvers by the operators are predominant causes of injuries to PWC operators.

Nearly 24% of injury events in 1997 involved operators of rented PWC.  Approximately one-half of these operators had less than one hour of experience in PWC operation.

Collisions with docks, larger boats, and other PWC accounted for greater than 65% of all reported injuries.  Collisions often occur when operators attempt to jump the wake generated by another vessel.

PWC offer no protection from impact to the rider or the passenger.

Injury Prevention Strategies

Educate the public on :

• Learning Safe PWC operation
• Wearing personal floatation devices (PFD's) and protective wetsuits
• Traveling at safe speeds appropriate for conditions and only during daylight hours
• Refraining from jumping the wakes generated by other vessels
• Avoiding designated swimming areas.

Meet with PWC manufacturers to encourage:

• Designs of PWC that promote safety
• Training PWC operators on safe operation
• Depicting safe and age-appropriate advertising
• Promotion of PWC operationn by persons 16 years of age or older

Meet with staff of state agencies responsible for safe boating enforcement:

• Evaluate existing policy aimed at reducing the risk of PWC-related injuries to children and adults
• Promote equipment manufacturing safety standards that encourage safe youth involvement in the sport
• Strengthen PWC regulations to protect youth from injury
• Ensure stronger enforcement of laws and stiffer penalties for operators of PWC who put others at risk for injury.

Work with media to promote safety and age-appropriate PWC activities

Promote the collection of statewide injury data that characterizes the etiology of the injury event

Encourage research to determine effective injury intervention strategies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that operating personal watercraft is inappropriate for children under 16 years.