Memorial Day weekend marks the launch of summer boating season*, and we are blessed with an abundance of outdoor recreation opportunities on Tennessee's beautiful rivers and lakes. But each year we read about too many deaths and serious injuries on our waterways.

Here are some TWRA statistics (PDF format) from the 2012 boating season:

• The total number of registered vessels in 2012 was 259,632. That was an increase of over 1,536 from 2011.
• The total number of reportable accidents in 2012 was 171. That was an increase from 2011 which had 162.
• The accident rate for 2012 was 65.8 per 100,000 registered vessels. This was an increase from 2011 which was 62.7 per 100,000.
• The body of water that reported the most accidents was Chickamauga Lake and Norris Lake with 15 accidents each.
• The county that reported the most accidents was Polk County. (whitewater activities)
• The monetary amount of damage resulting from boating accidents in 2012 was $2,306,012. This was an increase from 2011 which reported $553,910.
• The most common type of boat involved in an accident was an open motorboat.
• The leading type of accident was collision with another vessel and fire (Non Fuel Related).
• The most common operation during an accident was cruising.
• The leading primary cause of accidents was operator inattention and no proper lookout.
• Alcohol and/or drug use was a primary cause in 2.9% of accidents. This was a decrease from 2011 which was 4.9% of accidents.
• The number of boating fatalities for 2012 was 18. This was a decrease from 2011 which reported 19.
• The type of accident that resulted in the most fatalities was falls overboard with 4 occurrences.
• The type of vessel that was most common in fatal accidents was the open motorboat with 12 vessels.
• The top primary cause for fatal accidents was alcohol use and weather/wind with 2 occurrences each. Of the fatal accidents, 4 had an undetermined primary cause.
• The number of injury accidents in 2012 was 94 resulting in 106 injuries.
• The leading contributing cause of injury accidents was careless/reckless operation.
• The type of accidents that resulted in the most injuries was skier mishap.
• The body of water that produced the most injury accidents was the Ocoee River with 13 accidents. These resulted from whitewater sports activities.

And that's not counting other accidental drownings. Don't be a statistic. If you are going into open water for any reason, you really should be wearing a personal flotation device. Even if you're an Olympic-class swimmer, there are too many things that can go wrong. The same applies if you're in an inherently unstable craft such as a canoe or a kayak.

As a kid, the best thing I learned from Red Cross water safety/life saving classes was the "reach, throw, row, go" protocol for potential drowning rescue situations.

First try to reach the victim from the safety of land or the boat, by hand, with a paddle or oar, a fishing rod, a stick, a rope, a towel, anything. If that's not possible, find something to throw to the victim such as a life vest, seat cushion, boat fender, plastic jug, cooler, or anything that floats. If that's not possible, try to get to the victim by boat, canoe, inner tube, or whatever other floating vessel might be about (but do not approach the victim under power). Entering the water to attempt a swimming rescue is always the last resort. All too frequently the result is two victims, even if the rescuer is trained and in good physical condition.

As the summer boating season approaches, boating safety cannot be stressed enough. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is primarily responsible for safety and enforcement on Tennessee waterways. They have safe boating courses and now require anyone born after Jan. 1, 1989 to pass a boating safety exam and carry a certification card. There is more information here, including a free online boating safety course.

Here are some other useful Tennessee boating and water safety links:

• Safety tips

• Required equipment checklist

• Summary of boating regulations

• Lighting requirements

• Aids to navigation

• Rules of right-of-way (PDF)

And to emphasize one of my pet peeves, you are responsible for your wake, so please keep an eye on it.

Even if you are a safe and responsible boater, there are plenty of irresponsible yahoos out on the lakes (some who may have had a few too many) who are a danger to themselves and others. So please be alert, be prepared, and be careful out there!

(*Memo to concern trolls who said in the past that I was unpatriotic for posting this. Yes, I know that the meaning of Memorial Day is to honor those who gave their lives defending our country. This post is not about that.)