Water Safety in New Mexico

New Mexico's life jacket rules go well beyond the federal rule for children. On a river, in any paddlecraft, or on an inner tube or air mattress, everyone must wear a life jacket. New Mexico State Parks recommends that every boater wear one all the time, because accidents on the water can happen much too fast to put on a life jacket (opens in a new tab).

New Mexico drowning and boating numbers

1.62 per 100,000

• Drowning: CDC puts New Mexico's average annual drowning death rate for 2018-2021 at 1.62 per 100,000 people (opens in a new tab), in the highest band on its map.
• Boating: The U.S. Coast Guard counted 24 reportable recreational boating incidents in New Mexico in 2024, with 2 deaths and 14 injuries (opens in a new tab). Deaths by year: 4 in 2020, 1 in 2021, 2 in 2022, 8 in 2023 and 2 in 2024.
• Disparities: nationally, CDC reports that American Indian and Alaska Native people under 30 have the highest drowning death rates in natural water, 2.7 times the rate for White people (opens in a new tab). Read drowning disparities.

CDC counts drowning deaths of residents; the Coast Guard counts boating incidents. See our New Mexico data page.

New Mexico's life jacket rules

New Mexico State Parks says the major cause of all boating related deaths is drowning, and most drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket (opens in a new tab). The state's rules:

• Rivers: every person boating on a river or in a boat race must wear a USCG-approved life jacket (opens in a new tab).
• Paddlecraft: every person on a human-powered watercraft or paddlecraft, such as a kayak, canoe or paddleboard, must wear one.
• Floats: every person using a wind sail board, inner tube, air mattress, float tube or other inflatable device must wear a USCG-approved life jacket or flotation assist device.
• Personal watercraft: everyone on board must wear one.
• Children: children under 13 must wear one while underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
• Every vessel: must carry a wearable Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person. Most vessels also need a throwable device.

A life jacket must be in good condition, readily accessible and the right size. Sizing goes by weight and chest size. A snug fit is a proper fit (opens in a new tab), and adult life jackets do not work for children. See how to choose a life jacket and why water wings and floaties aren't life jackets.

Rivers and lakes

The river rule exists because moving water is hard to predict. Before a float, read our river safety guide. On lakes, read lake swimming safety.

New Mexico boater education card

New Mexico State Parks says many boaters are required by law to complete a boating safety course and carry a boater education card. You need the card to operate a vessel propelled by a motor (gasoline or electric) or a sailboat. People born before January 1, 1989 are exempt, as are non-residents with a valid card from another state. The card is valid for your lifetime (opens in a new tab), and the course certificate works as a temporary card for 45 days. Details are on the boating education page (opens in a new tab).

This is a summary, not legal advice. Check New Mexico State Parks before you go.

What you can do today

• Fit a life jacket for everyone before a river trip, and keep it buckled.
• Leave inner tubes at home unless the rider also wears a life jacket.
• Take the boating safety course and get your lifetime boater education card.
• Learn the rescue rule: reach or throw, don't go.
• Find swim lessons with our guide to finding swim lessons.