In early April, parasailing in Florida took a step closer to becoming a regulated industry. On April 3rd, the state Senate approved a bill that would require parasailing companies to adhere to standardized safety guidelines.
The pending legislation includes stipulations on insurance, equipment and licensing requirements, along with weather condition standards that would force operations to temporarily stop. The bill passed through unanimously 40-0.
Parasailing is a popular water sport in which people, attached to a tow rope and wearing parachutes, are lifted into the air over the water and pulled by a motor boat. The pending bill is sponsored by Sen. Maria Sachs, D-Delray Beach. The legislation proposes that parasailing operators carry at least $1 million in insurance, obtain a license issued by the Coast Guard, and keep certain equipment onboard their vessels at all times.
The parasailing industry received national attention in recent years with several deaths and accidents involving unregulated operations near Florida beaches. Last summer, two teenagers were severely injured near Panama City Beach during a parasailing accident.
Alexis Fairchild and Sidney Good, both 17-year-old tourists from Indiana, were captured on video after the line between their harness and the boat that pulled them snapped and left them subject to the whims of the wind. Video footage shows the two teens drifting in the wind then smashing into a condominium. The video doesn’t include footage of them hitting the power line or caving in the roof of an SUV before they finally hit the ground.
Pam Worsham, owner of Cocoa Beach Parasail, supports the legislation and said the guidelines would weed out unscrupulous companies that have a negative effect on the industry. Worsham also said she hopes insurance rates for individual companies will drop if the industry becomes regulated by the state. Worsham said:
“Everything that’s in that law, we’ve been doing already. A good operator, as far as the insurance, the equipment, the conditions, we all do that. What this is going to do is hold those people that opt not to accountable.”
The accompanying bill still needs to be approved by the House before the legislation would go to the governor.
Tips for Safer Boating and Water Sports in Florida
In Florida, water sports and activities are commonplace for residents and tourists. Many residents and visitors are just a short drive away from rentals and activities involving wave-runners, parasailing, motorboats, kayaks, and scuba diving. Unfortunately, water sports and boating activities also present relative dangers. Tourists and residents alike can better protect themselves while participating in water sports and recreation by following a few simple tips before visiting Florida and setting out on the water:
- Avoid Consuming Alcohol: The vessel operator should abstain from alcoholic beverages while on the water. Combined with full sun exposure and greater potential for dehydration, the effects of alcohol on the water have been proven to be more debilitating than on land. US Coast Guard statistics cited that alcohol use on the water is the highest contributing factor to fatal boating accidents.
- Learn to Swim: Basic swimming ability can help a person feel more prepared when engaging in any water-related sports or activities. Confidence will help to keep a person from panicking if they should fall in the water.
- Always Wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD): Strong swimming ability is not exemption from wearing a life vest. Most PFDs are designed to keep a person’s head above water if they are rendered unconscious, a condition where swimming skills are irrelevant.
- Never Go Out Alone: Avoid boating, kayaking, or riding a PWC alone. Take a friend or set out with a group. If you must go out onto the water alone, set a “sail plan” just like a pilot sets a flight plan. Friends or family should be made aware each time you go out on the water, where you’re going, and how long you expect to be gone. Stick to your “sail plan” and agree to call someone once you come ashore safely.
References:
The News Herald
US Coast Guard
