If you are taking to the waterways during these final weeks of summer, be it by boat, kayak, paddle board, raft or canoe, there are several preparedness and safety tips you should keep in mind before buckling that lifejacket.
In 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard reported 4,158 accidents that involved 626 deaths, 2,613 injuries and approximately $42 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents.
Recreational boating is a great way to spend time with family and friends, and following these tips to make safety a priority will help guarantee your boating excursions stay fun:
- Take a course. More than 7 out of every 10 boating incidents are caused by operator error. Boating courses teach the rules for safe operation and navigation. Also, several outdoors organizations offer safety or skill development courses for canoeing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding and rafting.
- Schedule a vessel safety check. The Coast Guard provides free boat examinations to confirm the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations. For more information about vessel safety checks, visit www.vesselsafetycheck.org.
- Follow a pre-departure checklist before setting sail. A major component of boating safety includes being prepared for any situation. To make sure you and your boat are prepared, create a pre-departure checklist to follow.
- Wear a lifejacket. It doesn’t matter if you are on a rowboat or a speedboat, everyone, of all ages, should wear a properly fitted life jacket at all times to decrease the chances of drowning.
- Use the following common sense:
- Always check the weather before you leave and get off the water if there are darkening clouds, changing winds, or a sudden drop in temperature.
- Operate your boat at a safe speed all of the time.
- Stay alert and watch for fellow boaters, as well as buoys and other navigational aids.
- Be cautious when swimming from a boat. Make sure you know the depth of the water and if there are any rocks or debris under the surface. Also, stay away from the boat’s propellers and other boaters.
- Don’t drink and boat! Alcohol use is involved in approximately a third of all recreational boating deaths. Not only is it hazardous to operate a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it’s also illegal in every state in the United States.
*Source: U.S. Coast Guard, www.uscgboating.org
*Source: Discoverboating.com, www.discoverboating.com
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