Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife offers a tip during Safe Boating Week, May 18 - 24, 2024.

Protect yourself, protect your passengers, and wear your ECOS. 

ECOS stand for engine cut-off switch. You might also hear this life-saving device referred to as a kill-switch, kill-switch lanyard, engine cut-off device, or engine cut-off system.

“No matter what you call it, wear it,” said MDIFW, in a news release.

An ECOS is designed to shut a boat's motor off if the operator is thrown overboard. Without it, the boat would continue to circle in the water which could cause collisions with other boats and puts anyone in the water at risk of being run over.

“It only takes one second to fall overboard, and it only takes one second for a typical three-blade propeller to inflict 160 impacts,” said MDIFW. “Make the decision now to protect yourself, protect your passengers, and wear your ECOS.”