The document presents a model for how situational awareness factors influence decisions about wearing life jackets while boating. It identifies dynamic risk factors like weather, water conditions, and activities that could change during a boat trip. It also identifies static risk factors like boat size, regulations, and experience that do not change. These factors along with boat type contribute to situational awareness of risks, which influences the perceived risks of capsizing or falling overboard and the perceived consequences of entering the water, ultimately impacting the decision to wear a life jacket.

1. Model of How Situational Awareness Factors Play
a Role in Decisions
to Wear Life Jackets While Boating
Thomas W. Mangione, PhD
Senior Research Scientist
Natalie Spitzer, MPH
Research Associate
JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc
Boston, MA 02110
2019 Life Jacket Association Conference
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May, 2019

2. Dynamic Risk Factors
Water Temp
Air Temp
Wind Speed
Current
Waves
Weather
Boat Underway Status
Operator Status
Risky Activity (fishing, white
water, being towed)
Impaired Status
Static Risk Factors
Boat Size
Life Jacket Regulations
Fishing Tournament Rules
Experience in type of boat
Training
# of Passengers
# of kids on board
Swimming Ability
Type of
Boat
Perceived Risk
of Capsizing or
Falling
Overboard
Perceived
Negative
Consequences
of Entry into the
Water
Decision to
Wear Life
Jacket
Beliefs in
Benefits/Drawbacks of
wearing Life Jackets
Model of How Situational Awareness Factors Play a Role in Decisions
to Wear Life Jackets While Boating
Situational Awareness Factors

3. The Basic Idea
Awareness of
Risks
Likelihood of
Unintentional
Water Entry
Decision to Wear
Life Jacket

4. Situational Awareness
(Assessing Risks Based on Current Situation)
Type of Boat
Dynamic
Factors
Static
Factors
Awareness
Of Risky
Situation

5. Static Factors
(Risks that don’t change during course of boat trip)
Boat Size
Life Jacket Regulations
Fishing Tournament Rules
Experience in Type of Boat
Training
# of Passengers
# of Kids on Board
Swimming Ability
Static Risk Factors

6. Dynamic Factors
(Risks that COULD change during course of boat trip)
Water Temperature
Air Temperature
Wind Speed
Current
Wave Height
Weather
Underway Status
Operator Status
Risky Activities
(fishing, white water, towed)
Impaired Status
Dynamic Risk Factors

7. Results of Situational Awareness
Perceived Risk
of Capsizing
or Falling
Overboard
Perceived
Negative
Consequences
of Entry into
the Water
Situational
Awareness
Boat Type
Static Risks
Dynamic Risks

8. Decision to
Wear or Not Wear
a Life Jacket
Decision to Wear a Life Jacket
Perceived Negative
Consequences of
Entry into the Water
Beliefs in
Benefits/Drawbacks
of Wearing a
Life Jacket

9. Dynamic Risk Factors
Water Temp
Air Temp
Wind Speed
Current
Waves
Weather
Boat Underway Status
Operator Status
Risky Activity (fishing, white
water, being towed)
Impaired Status
Static Risk Factors
Boat Size
Life Jacket Regulations
Fishing Tournament Rules
Experience in type of boat
Training
# of Passengers
# of kids on board
Swimming Ability
Type of
Boat
Perceived Risk
of Capsizing or
Falling
Overboard
Perceived
Negative
Consequences
of Entry into the
Water
Decision to
Wear Life
Jacket
Beliefs in
Benefits/Drawbacks of
wearing Life Jackets
Model of How Situational Awareness Factors Play a Role in Decision
to Wear a Life Jacket While Boating
Situational Awareness Factors