In typical boating fatalities, life jackets are ... but are not...

In typical boating fatalities, life jackets are often present on the boat but are not being worn. This highlights a critical safety issue; even when life jackets are available, their effectiveness is only realized when they are properly worn by individuals on the vessel. Statistics show that a significant number of boating-related deaths occur because people fail to don their life jackets, especially in unexpected situations such as capsizing or sudden accidents.

The presence of life jackets onboard fails to contribute to safety if they remain unused. This emphasizes the importance of not only having life jackets available but also the necessity for everyone on board to wear them at all times, as they are designed to provide buoyancy and increase chances of survival in the water.