Such a tragedy, the drowning deaths of so many people this summer.
Undoubtedly, they did not get up early on those summer morning and say “This will be my last day on earth.”
The events that happened in their lives were unexpected and perhaps some of them could have been prevented with proper precautions.
We all know we should have life jackets for everyone readily available on a boat. We know that there should be a designated boat driver who is not drinking alcohol.
It is easy to become complacent when one has done those things without the proper precautions and been all right in the past.
However, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We all know this. An ounce is a much lower cost.
This is why we put sunscreen on before the sunburn because it after one’s skin turns red, it is too late to prevent burns. This is why we stitch a seam in a pair of pants before wearing them so we don’t embarrass ourselves later in the day.
This is why it is important to securely put  children in safety seats even if only traveling one block.
It is because that one time when things go wrong, when the wind blows the boat away from the swimmer at the lake beyond his ability to swim, or the boat capsizes that terrible accidents occur.
You may have buckled that child safely in his seat 1,000 times, but it is that one time that it doesn’t happen and an incident occurs, and one spends the remainder of his or her life regretting that one moment.
There is always only one first time, and that first time can happen at any time.
It’s always wiser to slow down when driving in the rain, use that buckle every time, let the boat go when it drifts away or secure it in the first place. You’ll be glad you did.
Even with the advancement of medicine, it cannot bring back dead and sometimes cannot repair maimed.
Take those one or two extra minutes to follow the speed limit, double check the kid’s car seat, and count the jackets on the boat or even wear one during the stormy weather we have had this year.