Water Safety Tips
Water Safety Tips
By Chuck Bauer
LIFE JACKETS -- Wearing a life jacket (also known as a Personal Flotation Device or PFD) is the single, most-important thing you can do to survive a boating accident. Having Coast Guard approved life jackets on board your vessel is required by law. All recreational boats, including canoes and kayaks, must be equipped with wearable life jackets for each person on board. Boats more than 16-feet in length must also have one throwable PFD. Life jackets must have a U.S. Coast Guard approved label with an approval number listed. Each life jacket must be the appropriate size for the person who wears it, in good condition, and readily accessible for use. Remember to:
- Buy your own personal life jacket and use it. It's important to choose one that you will feel comfortable wearing.
- One size does not fit all. Check the label for weight and size information. The jacket fits properly if, once the straps and buckles are secured, it does not slip over your head or come above your ears. Never use water toys (such as inflatable inner tubes) in place of a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Dispose of life jackets if buckles or zippers fail to function correctly. Check all life jackets annually and again every time you go boating to make sure they still float and fit the intended users properly. The law requires that life jackets are sized appropriately for the people on board your boat, and that includes children. Life jackets are made for infants through preteens, so be sure to get the right size for your child. The colorful life jackets available today are fun for children to wear and increase chances of survival. And remember to set a good example - wear your own life jacket while boating!
OPERATING PROCEDURES -- Operating a boat is an important responsibility, similar to driving a car. There are rules unique to boating which you need to learn in order to protect yourself and to avoid being a hazard to others on the water. Resources are available to help you learn what you need to know. Here are some basic tips:
- GET A COURTESY MARINE EXAMINATION -- The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer organization, can give you a Free Courtesy Marine Examination. They will check the safety equipment installed on your vessel as well as certain aspects of the vessels condition. The exam requirements parallel federal requirements. Call your local Coast Guard Auxiliary for information.
- BOAT SAFETY INFOLINE -- If you want more information on any of the boating safety topics covered here or federal safety requirements, call the U.S Coast Guard Infoline tollfree at 1-800-368-5647. (Please note: this is NOT an emergency number).
- DRINKING AND DRIVING DON'T MIX -- Drinking alcoholic beverages while boating can impair judgment. The effects of alcohol can be exacerbated by the motion, noise, and vibration of the boat, as well as dehydration from being in the sun. For all these reasons, avoid alcoholic beverages while boating and drink plenty of water instead.
PERSONAL WATERCRAFT -- Personal watercraft, such as the popular Jet-Ski, are one of the fastest-growing forms of recreation on the water. They are exciting, fun, and fast; but it's important to remember that a personal watercraft is a boat, in every sense, and the same rules of safety apply. Here are some important safety tips for riding a personal watercraft:
- Always obey boating laws.
- Always wear your life jacket.
- Coast Guard and state rules also require having a fire extinguisher on board. They are required by law in many states.
- Never carry more than the maximum passenger-load specified for your craft. Learn the rules for speed and proximity in your area. Remember that a personal watercraft is small and other boaters may not see you.
- Stay alert and look around you before turning.
- Remember that most personal watercrafts are jet-propelled. If the throttle is released, you will lose maneuverability.
- Check local laws for age limits, life jacket requirements, and other laws regulating personal watercraft.
TRANSPORTING YOUR BOAT -- While it's critical to be safe on the water, it's just as important to practice safe trailering techniques as you transport your boat to the water:
- Choose the proper trailer for your boat. It should support the boat evenly across the hull. The trailer should support the entire length of the boat's hull but allow the lower portion of the engine to extend freely. The capacity of the trailer should be greater than the combined weight of the trailer, boat, and equipment on the boat.
- Make sure tie-downs and supports are adjusted properly to keep the boat from bouncing on the trailer.
- Keep rollers and bolsters in good condition to prevent scratching and gouging of the hull.
- The trailer should be evenly loaded from front to back and side to side. Before going on the road, check that the tow ball and coupler are securely fastened and the latching mechanism is locked. Also check that bolts with washers are tightly secured, as they can become loosened by the vibration of road travel.
- Check that the safety chains attaching the coupler to the frame of the tow vehicle are secure and adjusted properly.
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