Our Opinion: Should PFD's be required?


Published on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 10:18 PM PST

 This evening Kern County Parks and Recreation is inviting you to share your opinion about whether life preservers and/or personal flotation devices (PFDs) should be required by anyone entering Kern County waters. 

Our online poll, at www.kvsun.com, is showing the people who responded are pretty evenly split. A poll of the Sun staff is also split; for us, the issue is not as simple as the “one size fits all” approach into which the county would have us buy.

Statistics on the dangers of the river and lives lost is the “writing on the wall” that PFDs should be required, as the lack of common sense continues to claim precious lives.

Perhaps a fine of $100 or more might give some people pause. And it could defray the county’s cost for Search and Rescue and other first responders.

Of course, common sense is the key to safety on all our waterways but our river is unpredictable; waters that appear calm on the surface typically have strong and deadly undercurrents. Imagine trying to swim your way out of the churning water in a big washing machine. It can’t be done. It just keeps pulling you down.

Our lake is a different story. Although all bodies of water come with their own risks, it is hard to envision our local fisherman wearing PFDs out in their boats. Water boarders, skiers, etc., is a given, again it’s simply common sense.

Our opinion, hands down, is that children should be required by law to always wear a life vest, no matter what form of watery entertainment they want to enjoy. It may a pontoon boat or simply playing along the shores of the lake or river.

It only takes a minute to lose sight of a child.

Make your opinion heard tonight, March 10, at the Lake Isabella Senior Center at 6:00 p.m.

 

Comments

11 comment(s)

    chuck wrote on Mar 18, 2010 10:14 PM:

    " If you must be saved or recovered while due to having been intoxicated you or your estate should pay the costs. Period. I am sick of paying for other peoples stupidity. "

    Mandate PFDs wrote on Mar 17, 2010 12:37 AM:

    " Wearing a PFD will fix the vast majority of the situations. It won't stop bad luck or truly stupid, but it'll give most people time to get out of the river or get rescued. "

    Mac wrote on Mar 15, 2010 9:51 AM:

    " Wearing a PFD isn't going to keep someone from getting stuck on a rock, or getting lost while hiking. Maybe anybody needing emergency services for an avoidable accident should have to pay a portion of the cost. "

    Sherrifs Dept wrote on Mar 14, 2010 9:28 PM:

    " We spend a lot of public funds on digging people out of the rivers, the mountains, the ocean, the lakes and other places where they're just STUPID. People without PFDs should pay the costs of search and rescue or recovery. "

    Mac wrote on Mar 12, 2010 8:39 AM:

    " I don't think PFDs should be required - how much are we going to insist the government protect us from our own stupidity? "

    SARGuy3 wrote on Mar 11, 2010 2:24 PM:

    " I think skydiving is dangerous and stupid, and I'll never be jumping out of a plane that's not on fire. Should that be outlawed? Should I press to make sure YOU can't do it if you so choose? Or should I leave you alone to make your own choice?
    My apologies for cheating & using 3 posts, but they only allow 100 words! "

    SARGuy2 wrote on Mar 11, 2010 2:21 PM:

    " Ever think that people might not call for help if they think they're going to get a citation? This would cause MORE drownings. SAR is not law enforcement, and does nit wish to be confused as such. We don't want folks hiding from us for fear of a ticket.
    I might agree with a children only rule, but as for adults, it comes down to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, not Nanny State. "

    SARGuy wrote on Mar 11, 2010 2:19 PM:

    " "I'm tired of paying to recover dead bodies" PFD YES says. Well, I'm tired of recovering dead bodies. I'm a member of the Search and Rescue team, and let me tell you, you're not paying much. We survive on donations and our own funds. The only thing you pay for is gas for our donated vehicles, and a meal for us every once in a while. I bet one dog catcher costs the county more than all SAR activity in a year, so please, spare me. "

    Peter Wiechers wrote on Mar 10, 2010 9:30 PM:

    " There are places on the Kern, especially in the lower canyon, that will kill a swimmer, life jacket or not. Will the forced wearing of life jackets give people unfamiliar with the river a false sense of security...encouraging them to float/swim down larger rapids than that of which they might not of done otherwise? Will the county assume liability in these situations?
    This proposal sounds like more "nanny government." "

    Rek wrote on Mar 10, 2010 1:54 PM:

    " I should not have to wear a PFD if I don't want to. It's my life, and I should be allowed to take any risks I choose as long as I am not endangering others or violating their rights. "

    PFDs Yes wrote on Mar 9, 2010 10:40 PM:

    " The people that drown are generally drunk adults. So, anyone drinking at the lake MUST have a PFD. PERIOD.

    Anyone going into the river MUST have a PFD. PERIOD.

    I say 1st violation is $100. 2nd violation is 100 hours of community service picking up trash. 3rd violation is banned from the lake or river for life.

    I'm tired of paying to recover dead bodies. And stupid is as stupid does. "

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