6 Ways to Stay Safe On The Water
There’s nothing like a beautiful day out on the water! A boating trip is one of the best ways for you and your family to unwind, relax, and enjoy life.
But maybe there’s a thought nagging at the back of your mind: What if something unexpected happens—will I be prepared to handle it?
The answer is: Yes, you can! With some basic knowledge, equipment, and sound safety practices, you can confidently respond to just about anything out of the ordinary.
The month of May just happens to be a good time to brush up on your safety knowledge and skills. As National Safe Boating Week (May 18-24) draws near, here are 6 ways to make your next boating trip a safe and happy one.
Take a boating safety course. The first step toward confidence on the water is to take a recognized boating safety course—which your state may also require. Tennessee residents born after January 1, 1989, for example, must possess a TWRA-approved boating education certificate to operate a boat on state waters.
Even if you’re not legally required to do so, taking a boating safety course is well worth the effort. You’ll learn about potential hazards on the water (maybe some things you hadn’t thought about), and how to deal with them.
Pre-check your boat and equipment. Before starting out, make sure your boat is in tip-top shape, and that you have everything you might need in case of an emergency. Some items are always a good idea to bring along, even on short outings, like:
• Wearable and throwable flotation devices;
• Fire extinguishers;
• First aid kits;
• Carbon monoxide detectors (for sleeping cabins);
• Visual and audible signaling devices;
• Anchors and line, and bailing devices or buckets;
• Communication devices (including cellphones and a VHF radio).
Life jackets for all—all the time. Be sure you have plenty of life jackets to accommodate everyone traveling on your boat—they could be a life-saver. Of course, they’re not much good stowed away in a compartment, or cast aside during the trip. If you’re the skipper, see to it that all of your passengers (including you!) wear a life jacket while on the boat.
Watch out for the weather. Speaking of weather: Just because it’s sunny and calm when you cast off, doesn’t mean it will stay that way. Depending on the season, the weather can turn on you quickly. So before you head out, be sure to check NOAA’s marine forecast for your area. And while you’re on the water, keep a NOAA-approved weather radio handy and tuned for alerts.
And…watch out for everything else. Not paying attention to your surroundings could be just as dangerous as operating a boat recklessly. To avoid an untimely accident, stay aware of other boaters around or approaching you, and continually scan the water for potential obstacles.
Stay clear-headed. If there is one safety super power you should master as a boater, it’s alertness of mind while on the water. You lose that edge, though, if you’re drinking alcohol or using other mind-dulling substances. Make it a rule, then, that whoever operates your boat during your outing should remain alcohol-free—your “designated skipper,” if you will.
A day on the water is all about having a good time, and then heading home with pleasant memories. That’s more likely to happen if you develop a firm grasp of boating safety.