On-the-Water Safety: What Could Go Wrong? Everything …

HUNTINGTON HARBOUR — The peak of summer means hundreds – if not thousands – of people are in or on the water at any given time. Every year a small percentage of those people succumb to a life-ending event, one he or she could have been prevented. Case-in-point: a young man reportedly died after falling off his standup paddleboard and drowning in not-so-deep waters in Huntington Harbour. A 26-year-old Lakewood, California resident was reportedly on a paddleboard when he fell off and became submerged. He was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) and did not know how to swim, according to multiple news reports. The man was discovered about 25 minutes after he fell, news reports continued. Attempts to resuscitate him reportedly failed, and he was declared dead later in the day. The tragic event at Huntington Harbour is a reminder of the risks involved with being on the water – and the importance to be as safe and responsible as possible. Personal Flotation Devices Could the loss of life have been prevented? The hindsight answer is a nonjudgmental yes. Standup paddleboards and kayaks might be nimble, low-maintenance vessels, but there is little to nothing protecting you from falling into the water should something go...