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Panel Hears HB 203 to Require Coast Guard‑Approved PFDs for Canoes, Kayaks and Rowing Craft in Cold‑Water Season
Summary
HB 203 would require people in canoes, kayaks and rowing shells to wear U.S. Coast Guard‑approved personal flotation devices between Nov. 15 and May 15 to reduce cold‑water immersion and hypothermia deaths.
The committee considered HB 203, a bill that would require occupants of canoes, kayaks and rowing shells to wear U.S. Coast Guard‑approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) between Nov. 15 and May 15.
Representative John T. McDonald, the prime sponsor, told the committee the measure addresses the increased risk of cold‑water immersion and hypothermia in late fall and early spring. “Wearing a personal flotation device will not totally prevent hypothermia, but it will certainly prevent the quickest onset of it and save your life,” he said, adding that many paddlers do not appreciate how quickly water at…
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