• Only 1 of the respondents had taken any kind of boating safety course
  
  
• A quarter of the respondents had no means of secondary propulsion, and half of the respondents did not subscribe to a towing service .
  
  
• Half of the respondents reported using tethers (leashes)
  
  
• Two people actually carry water makers
  
  
• About 2/3 of the respondents had taken first aid and CPR courses
  
  
• Less than half the respondents carried small, simple emergency items like a signal mirror or a sea anchor.

So what does this mean? Maybe not a lot...after you comply with the Coast Guard regs, what you do to prepare for emergencies is entirely your choice. But hopefully the article and survey gave you some food for thought. Be careful out there!