It doesn't surprise me at all that 16% still drownd with a pdf, unless you are in warm water or in an emersion suit cold water will do you in.

All you suggestion are good, but facts are facts, most who die weren't wearing their life jackets when the shit hit the fan, and the biggest contributor to death on the water is water craft less than 16 feet long (pg 30 of the report) 308 of 736, and boats under 26 feet and over 16 317 of 736.

There were zero deaths on boats 65 feet and longer.

So the biggest safety thing you can do is only go on the water in a boat over 65 feet long!