DON'T IGNORE RISKS OF BOATING

It often takes a high-profile accident to call attention to dangers many people overlook. Such is the case of the recent deaths of two Cleveland Indians pitchers who died last week in a boating mishap on a Florida lake. Grim as the incident seems, with the deaths of two young men in violent circumstances, it might serve as a reminder that recreational boating carries its risks, and not paying homage to them can have tragic results.

Water seems harmless enough. It gives way as you swim through it, separates as you dive into it. Still, laws of motion apply. Last Monday, the baseball players were operating a 2,000-pound boat at high speed on a darkened lake. The boat smashed into a dock, killing one pitcher instantly while his teammate lived another 10 hours. A third passenger in the boat received seriously injuries, avoiding being added to Florida's dismal statistics: 181 people died in that state from boating accidents in 1991 and 1992. Thirty percent of those fatalities are alcohol-related, though that has not been proven a factor in the pitchers' deaths.

With the arrival of spring and the seasonal surge in outdoor activities, it bears noting that high-powered motors and careless behavior don't mix. Entering alcohol into the equation is not wise, either. Water makes for terrific recreational opportunities, as many people in this region realize. Disregarding its dangers, however, is foolish and sometimes fatal.