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How do people drown while wearing a life jacket?


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Recently, I heard of three tourists from Germany drowning in a lake in Alaska. Their boat overturned and they ended up in the water. All three of them were wearing life jackets. This is what I don't understand, how can people still drown if they are wearing a life jacket?










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  • NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

    – noah
    7 hours ago


















4















Recently, I heard of three tourists from Germany drowning in a lake in Alaska. Their boat overturned and they ended up in the water. All three of them were wearing life jackets. This is what I don't understand, how can people still drown if they are wearing a life jacket?










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  • NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

    – noah
    7 hours ago














4












4








4








Recently, I heard of three tourists from Germany drowning in a lake in Alaska. Their boat overturned and they ended up in the water. All three of them were wearing life jackets. This is what I don't understand, how can people still drown if they are wearing a life jacket?










share|improve this question









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Peter U is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Recently, I heard of three tourists from Germany drowning in a lake in Alaska. Their boat overturned and they ended up in the water. All three of them were wearing life jackets. This is what I don't understand, how can people still drown if they are wearing a life jacket?







safety water






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  • NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

    – noah
    7 hours ago



















  • NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

    – noah
    7 hours ago

















NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

– noah
7 hours ago





NYPost article on incident. People article on indicent.

– noah
7 hours ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















4














Life jackets do not make one drownproof, just increase your odds significantly.




Our data also show that over 80% of drowning victims were NOT wearing life jackets when
found.
We know from other data that most of those victims could have been saved had
they been wearing a life jacket before the mishap occurred.



But, you ask, what happened to the other 20%, the ones who were wearing life jackets,
but drowned anyway?



...



Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the
boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or
otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water
, or eventually drowns from
numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.




The Other 20% --
When Wearing a Life Jacket
Is Not Enough
By CDR Kim Pickens, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve
Operation BoatSmart Project Officer



Of course you are way better off wearing a life jacket but it won't prevent you from drowning in all cases. The other killer if you fall off a boat in the ocean is hypothermia.






share|improve this answer

































    4














    In the specific case you mention, both the NY Post and Deutsche Welle say that the cause of death is still being investigated, and both of them point out the extremely low water temperature (the victims were kayaking in a glacier lake). DW mentions that they were not wearing any protection against cold water. At the time of writing, hypothermia seems more likely than drowning. The NY Post article mentions a water temperature of 9°C, corresponding to an expected survival time of 1-3 hours. Considering that the victims were in their sixties, the lower end of this range seems more probable in this case.






    share|improve this answer

































      1














      PFDs come in various flavours:



      The best ones have sufficient floatation around the neck, and enough more insulation on the front compared to the back, than an unconscious victim is naturally rotated onto his back with is face out of the water.



      The 2nd tier will float you upright, but if you are unconscious, your face may fall into the water.



      Third tier are flotation belts which may or may not keep you upright but reduce vulnerability to undertows.



      The first time you have to work at drowning in. It happens. An unconscious victim in choppy water can drown from repeated splashes in the face.



      Most boaters are using 2nd tier ones. They are way more comfortable to wear casually. Regulators figured that a great lifejacket that isn't worn is not a win.



      In Alaska, I'm betting that hypothermia is part of the picture too. In cold water it quickly becomes impossible to take effective action to save yourself, and soon after mental ability deteriorates.






      share|improve this answer




























        Your Answer








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        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes








        3 Answers
        3






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        4














        Life jackets do not make one drownproof, just increase your odds significantly.




        Our data also show that over 80% of drowning victims were NOT wearing life jackets when
        found.
        We know from other data that most of those victims could have been saved had
        they been wearing a life jacket before the mishap occurred.



        But, you ask, what happened to the other 20%, the ones who were wearing life jackets,
        but drowned anyway?



        ...



        Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the
        boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or
        otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water
        , or eventually drowns from
        numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.




        The Other 20% --
        When Wearing a Life Jacket
        Is Not Enough
        By CDR Kim Pickens, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve
        Operation BoatSmart Project Officer



        Of course you are way better off wearing a life jacket but it won't prevent you from drowning in all cases. The other killer if you fall off a boat in the ocean is hypothermia.






        share|improve this answer






























          4














          Life jackets do not make one drownproof, just increase your odds significantly.




          Our data also show that over 80% of drowning victims were NOT wearing life jackets when
          found.
          We know from other data that most of those victims could have been saved had
          they been wearing a life jacket before the mishap occurred.



          But, you ask, what happened to the other 20%, the ones who were wearing life jackets,
          but drowned anyway?



          ...



          Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the
          boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or
          otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water
          , or eventually drowns from
          numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.




          The Other 20% --
          When Wearing a Life Jacket
          Is Not Enough
          By CDR Kim Pickens, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve
          Operation BoatSmart Project Officer



          Of course you are way better off wearing a life jacket but it won't prevent you from drowning in all cases. The other killer if you fall off a boat in the ocean is hypothermia.






          share|improve this answer




























            4












            4








            4







            Life jackets do not make one drownproof, just increase your odds significantly.




            Our data also show that over 80% of drowning victims were NOT wearing life jackets when
            found.
            We know from other data that most of those victims could have been saved had
            they been wearing a life jacket before the mishap occurred.



            But, you ask, what happened to the other 20%, the ones who were wearing life jackets,
            but drowned anyway?



            ...



            Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the
            boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or
            otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water
            , or eventually drowns from
            numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.




            The Other 20% --
            When Wearing a Life Jacket
            Is Not Enough
            By CDR Kim Pickens, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve
            Operation BoatSmart Project Officer



            Of course you are way better off wearing a life jacket but it won't prevent you from drowning in all cases. The other killer if you fall off a boat in the ocean is hypothermia.






            share|improve this answer













            Life jackets do not make one drownproof, just increase your odds significantly.




            Our data also show that over 80% of drowning victims were NOT wearing life jackets when
            found.
            We know from other data that most of those victims could have been saved had
            they been wearing a life jacket before the mishap occurred.



            But, you ask, what happened to the other 20%, the ones who were wearing life jackets,
            but drowned anyway?



            ...



            Those are the primary reasons boaters wearing life jackets sometimes drown. Either the
            boater is unable to free him- or herself from some type of entrapment, is unconscious or
            otherwise unable to keep his/her face out of the water
            , or eventually drowns from
            numerous mouth immersions over a prolonged period of time.




            The Other 20% --
            When Wearing a Life Jacket
            Is Not Enough
            By CDR Kim Pickens, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve
            Operation BoatSmart Project Officer



            Of course you are way better off wearing a life jacket but it won't prevent you from drowning in all cases. The other killer if you fall off a boat in the ocean is hypothermia.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered 8 hours ago









            Charlie BrumbaughCharlie Brumbaugh

            54.6k17 gold badges153 silver badges320 bronze badges




            54.6k17 gold badges153 silver badges320 bronze badges




























                4














                In the specific case you mention, both the NY Post and Deutsche Welle say that the cause of death is still being investigated, and both of them point out the extremely low water temperature (the victims were kayaking in a glacier lake). DW mentions that they were not wearing any protection against cold water. At the time of writing, hypothermia seems more likely than drowning. The NY Post article mentions a water temperature of 9°C, corresponding to an expected survival time of 1-3 hours. Considering that the victims were in their sixties, the lower end of this range seems more probable in this case.






                share|improve this answer






























                  4














                  In the specific case you mention, both the NY Post and Deutsche Welle say that the cause of death is still being investigated, and both of them point out the extremely low water temperature (the victims were kayaking in a glacier lake). DW mentions that they were not wearing any protection against cold water. At the time of writing, hypothermia seems more likely than drowning. The NY Post article mentions a water temperature of 9°C, corresponding to an expected survival time of 1-3 hours. Considering that the victims were in their sixties, the lower end of this range seems more probable in this case.






                  share|improve this answer




























                    4












                    4








                    4







                    In the specific case you mention, both the NY Post and Deutsche Welle say that the cause of death is still being investigated, and both of them point out the extremely low water temperature (the victims were kayaking in a glacier lake). DW mentions that they were not wearing any protection against cold water. At the time of writing, hypothermia seems more likely than drowning. The NY Post article mentions a water temperature of 9°C, corresponding to an expected survival time of 1-3 hours. Considering that the victims were in their sixties, the lower end of this range seems more probable in this case.






                    share|improve this answer













                    In the specific case you mention, both the NY Post and Deutsche Welle say that the cause of death is still being investigated, and both of them point out the extremely low water temperature (the victims were kayaking in a glacier lake). DW mentions that they were not wearing any protection against cold water. At the time of writing, hypothermia seems more likely than drowning. The NY Post article mentions a water temperature of 9°C, corresponding to an expected survival time of 1-3 hours. Considering that the victims were in their sixties, the lower end of this range seems more probable in this case.







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 8 hours ago









                    PontPont

                    3,17915 silver badges26 bronze badges




                    3,17915 silver badges26 bronze badges


























                        1














                        PFDs come in various flavours:



                        The best ones have sufficient floatation around the neck, and enough more insulation on the front compared to the back, than an unconscious victim is naturally rotated onto his back with is face out of the water.



                        The 2nd tier will float you upright, but if you are unconscious, your face may fall into the water.



                        Third tier are flotation belts which may or may not keep you upright but reduce vulnerability to undertows.



                        The first time you have to work at drowning in. It happens. An unconscious victim in choppy water can drown from repeated splashes in the face.



                        Most boaters are using 2nd tier ones. They are way more comfortable to wear casually. Regulators figured that a great lifejacket that isn't worn is not a win.



                        In Alaska, I'm betting that hypothermia is part of the picture too. In cold water it quickly becomes impossible to take effective action to save yourself, and soon after mental ability deteriorates.






                        share|improve this answer






























                          1














                          PFDs come in various flavours:



                          The best ones have sufficient floatation around the neck, and enough more insulation on the front compared to the back, than an unconscious victim is naturally rotated onto his back with is face out of the water.



                          The 2nd tier will float you upright, but if you are unconscious, your face may fall into the water.



                          Third tier are flotation belts which may or may not keep you upright but reduce vulnerability to undertows.



                          The first time you have to work at drowning in. It happens. An unconscious victim in choppy water can drown from repeated splashes in the face.



                          Most boaters are using 2nd tier ones. They are way more comfortable to wear casually. Regulators figured that a great lifejacket that isn't worn is not a win.



                          In Alaska, I'm betting that hypothermia is part of the picture too. In cold water it quickly becomes impossible to take effective action to save yourself, and soon after mental ability deteriorates.






                          share|improve this answer




























                            1












                            1








                            1







                            PFDs come in various flavours:



                            The best ones have sufficient floatation around the neck, and enough more insulation on the front compared to the back, than an unconscious victim is naturally rotated onto his back with is face out of the water.



                            The 2nd tier will float you upright, but if you are unconscious, your face may fall into the water.



                            Third tier are flotation belts which may or may not keep you upright but reduce vulnerability to undertows.



                            The first time you have to work at drowning in. It happens. An unconscious victim in choppy water can drown from repeated splashes in the face.



                            Most boaters are using 2nd tier ones. They are way more comfortable to wear casually. Regulators figured that a great lifejacket that isn't worn is not a win.



                            In Alaska, I'm betting that hypothermia is part of the picture too. In cold water it quickly becomes impossible to take effective action to save yourself, and soon after mental ability deteriorates.






                            share|improve this answer













                            PFDs come in various flavours:



                            The best ones have sufficient floatation around the neck, and enough more insulation on the front compared to the back, than an unconscious victim is naturally rotated onto his back with is face out of the water.



                            The 2nd tier will float you upright, but if you are unconscious, your face may fall into the water.



                            Third tier are flotation belts which may or may not keep you upright but reduce vulnerability to undertows.



                            The first time you have to work at drowning in. It happens. An unconscious victim in choppy water can drown from repeated splashes in the face.



                            Most boaters are using 2nd tier ones. They are way more comfortable to wear casually. Regulators figured that a great lifejacket that isn't worn is not a win.



                            In Alaska, I'm betting that hypothermia is part of the picture too. In cold water it quickly becomes impossible to take effective action to save yourself, and soon after mental ability deteriorates.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 5 hours ago









                            Sherwood BotsfordSherwood Botsford

                            8,6141 gold badge19 silver badges48 bronze badges




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