| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | they're available in a wide array of sizes, colors and |
| Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one | | | | patterns. You can now choose one in your favorite |
| of the safest family activities there is. U.S. statistics | | | | color, or to match your swimsuit or boat. Just make |
| show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as | | | | sure it fits properly! |
| safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba | | | | Does boating education help in preventing accidents? |
| diving. By practicing safe boating, you will provide a | | | | I can't stress this point enough. |
| wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your | | | | A recent Florida study brought out these interesting |
| children a love of the water that will last them a | | | | facts. |
| lifetime. | | | | 72% of operators involved in boating accidents had no |
| So What Goes Wrong? | | | | formal instruction in the operation of a boat. |
| Having made such a sweeping endorsement of the | | | | 2.5 times as many accidents involve boaters who |
| relative safety of boating, how do we explain the | | | | have had no boating safety instruction. |
| glaring headlines which we find in the press on an all to | | | | Boating is a wonderful pastime, and lots of fun but, |
| regular basis? | | | | there are a few things, that one needs to know, in |
| Fortunately, for you and me, there are numerous public | | | | order for it to be a safe pastime. And don't worry |
| agencies which spend a lot of time and money doing | | | | about looking silly, I've been around boats all my life, (53 |
| the research and compiling data. After researching | | | | years) and hardly a day goes by that I don't learn |
| their findings it becomes obvious that a little preparation | | | | something new or discover a new and better way of |
| and planning can all but eliminate therisks. | | | | doing something. |
| Some Pertinent Facts: | | | | Two years ago I took a boating safety course with |
| The most common accident to passengers and crew | | | | the idea that, with all my experience, I might be of help |
| is falling overboard. According to the statistics over | | | | to some of the new people. Fact is, there were so |
| 40% of all fatal boating accidents start this way. It can | | | | many things I didn't know, or had forgotten, that I spent |
| be avoided if boaters make sure they have good | | | | a good deal of time just asking questions. When the |
| footing and a good hand-hold at all times. An, age-old, | | | | class was over, several of the students came up and |
| seafaring reminder, which I first heard in the Coast | | | | thanked me for asking all the questions they weren't |
| Guard, goes like this. "One hand for the ship, one hand | | | | sure how to ask. Guess I was a help to the new |
| for the sailor." | | | | people, after all, just not in the way I figured. |
| Children should never be allowed to move about on an | | | | Weather you are an old "salt", with years of boating |
| underway boat. If you need to move around on the | | | | experience, or a "lubber", who gets lost in the bathtub, |
| boat, for any reason, reduce speed and make sure to | | | | do yourself and your loved ones a favor and take an |
| get and keep a grip with at least one hand. | | | | approved boating safety course. The time to think |
| Alcohol and water don't mix. In a Red Cross study, | | | | through, and plan for a journey in a strange |
| two-thirds of boating injury victims had consumed | | | | environment, is before you make the trip. |
| alcohol. Almost 40% had an alcohol level above the | | | | Safety Tips |
| legal limit. Besides being illegal, it's dangerous to operate | | | | To prevent ending up in the emergency department as |
| any kind of machinery while drinking. A boat is no | | | | a result of carelessness during your next boating trip, |
| exception. | | | | the American College of Emergency Physicians |
| 35% of boating accidents were directly attributable to | | | | recommends the following safety tips: |
| alcohol use and the overwhelming primary cause of | | | | - Tell someone when you're going, who is with you and |
| fatalities was alcohol-related. If you drink and boat, you | | | | how long you'll be away. Then check your boat, |
| are more likely to be involved in an accident, and once | | | | equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before |
| involved, more likely to die. | | | | leaving. |
| 53% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, while | | | | - Before starting your engine, open hatches, run blower, |
| 39% suffered trauma and 9% died of other causes. | | | | and most importantly, carefully sniff for gasoline fumes |
| What About All Those Drownings? | | | | in the fuel and engine areas. |
| A recent Red Cross study noted 92% of | | | | - When changing seats, stay low and near center line |
| boating-related drowning victims were either not | | | | of a small boat. |
| wearing a PFD or life jacket or were wearing one | | | | - Always carry life jackets and first aid equipment. |
| incorrectly. | | | | - Watch the weather. Sudden wind shifts, light flashes |
| The US Coast Guard is even more to the point, stating | | | | and choppy water can mean a storm is brewing. |
| that of the 519 boaters who drowned in the year | | | | - If you will be fishing, keep fishing and hunting gear |
| 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of | | | | clean and well packed. A loose fish hook can cause a |
| approximately 445 of those boaters who drowned. In | | | | lot of pain and ruin a great outing. Bring an extra length |
| 2000, approximately eight out of every ten victims in | | | | of line to secure boat and equipment. |
| fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. | | | | - Never drink alcoholic beverages on a boat. Being |
| Always carry enough Personal Flotation Devices | | | | "tipsy" can result in falling overboard. Your ability to |
| (PFDs) for each person on board, and make sure that | | | | swim to safety or call for help is greatly reduced as |
| each of them knows where they are and how to use | | | | alcohol slows reactions. |
| them. It's your responsability, Captain. No one, least of | | | | So There You Have It |
| all yourself, wants to hear that you thought they knew | | | | To learn more about safe boating, I'd like to suggest |
| how to put on a PFD. If anyone won't prove their | | | | these Online sources of information. Coast Guard |
| knowledge of the devise, or buddy up with someone | | | | Auxiliary, or the U.S. Power Squadrons. Our sister-site, |
| to teach them, leave them ashore. You'll both be better | | | | offers more tips on boating safety and a complete |
| off. | | | | page of links to Boating Safety related websites on |
| Children and non-swimmers should wear one at all | | | | the Internet. |
| times that the boat is underway. For water-skiing, | | | | May all of your boating adventures be joyous and |
| fishing, or simply cruising, PFDs are absolutely essential. | | | | happy ones, unblemished by the blight of accident or |
| It's now even easier to find the ideal PFD because | | | | injury. |