By Emory Smith
The Boating Season is now in full swing! Here’s a few tips to stay safe on the water this Summer!
Wear your Life Jackets!
Floatation devices on a boat are a must-have item. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 85 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
Even if everyone on board the boat is a strong swimmer, if you or your group is stranded in the water for a long period of time or becomes incapacitated in the water, wearing a life jacket or life vest increases your chances of survival.
The U.S. Coast Guard requires anyone ages 13 and under to be wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times. There must also be one lifejacket for every person onboard.
Be sure to wear the life jacket properly – with both arms through, zipped up and/or buckled together.
Don’t Drink and Boat!
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents, according to the Safe Boating Council. Alcohol affects a person’s vision, judgment, coordination, and balance.
Operating a boat while intoxicated is not only dangerous to yourself, everyone on your vessel, and those around you – it is also a crime. To avoid any potentially dangerous situations, choose a sober driver ahead of time.
Carry a First Aid Kit!
First aid kits are available at most pharmacies and retail stores. The American Red Cross has a list of items that should be included in every first aid kit – including bandages, gauze, antibiotic cream, antiseptic, tweezers, and a thermometer.
Know before you go, especially the weather!
Being out on the open water feels great – unless the weather starts to turn. When wind and rain start to move in, things can become unsafe pretty quickly.
Check the forecast the night before and the morning of your planned boating day to ensure you don’t encounter any severe weather. If there is a chance of rough weather, have a plan to avoid getting caught in a storm.
Keep Your Eyes Open!
Be aware of what – and who – is around you and the boat in which you are riding.
Some bodies of water have speed limits and no wake zones that need to be respected. Drivers of motorized boats should always be looking out for people in smaller vessels (e.g., kayaks, rowboats, etc.) or swimmers.
Hazardous tree limbs, sandbars, and other obstructions in shallow waterways also create the possibility of damaging the boat or injuring people on board. Being attentive about these potential problems will make for a better overall boating experience.
Have a great time on the water and be safe! As Sherrie says, “Safe boating is no accident!”
If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net
Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.