When was the last time you sat on a plane and listened intently as the stewardess explained the safety features of the craft? Fact is, most of us are more concerned with getting there, or wondering when food and drink will be served. Same truth applies to some recreational boaters. Maybe they carry life jackets on board. But wear them? No way! They have never had a reason to use them. Lucky. If and when they ever have to, I sincerely hope that they're not lying down below in some hard-to-reach storage bin.

Over the past few weeks, I've had quite a few phone calls from poker runners who have been to certain events and were shocked to see that nobody, organizers included, paid the slightest attention to safety on the water. One reader told me that people on the run were even drinking alcohol while they were driving.

At Poker Runs America events, we take great pride in the fact that we enforce mandatory safety standards. I've said it before, but you should never ever forget our prime directive: Water on the water, beer on the pier! Every boater who attends our events (crew included) must wear a life jacket or PFD on the water. We've got a few other safeguards, too, but the two I just mentioned are critical.

Just like the horror stories you hear about car drivers who drink, then suddenly find themselves - or worse, others - the victims of an accident that might have been avoided if they were in full control of their faculties, it can happen on the water just as easily.

That's exactly what we don't want to happen. Poker runs are fun-filled get-togethers where you meet old friends, make new friends, and generally just enjoy putting your boat through its paces. But all it takes is one or two incidents, whether it has to do with not wearing life jackets or drinking, the news will be bad. Newspapers will carry the stark headlines. The non-boating public will have a new cause. Community outrage may just possibly lead to a regulatory ban on the whole poker run concept. All because some hot dog boater thumbed his nose at safety.