Everything You Need To Know About Boating Safety
The best fun that can be had on a boat is safe fun. Before you get on board, make sure that you know the steps you need to take as far as boating safety goes and you will enjoy making some amazing memories in your boat.
Always Carry a Safety Kit
The most important thing you can do is to make sure that you have a safety kit with you every time you get into the water. This is because it’s impossible to predict an emergency and there’s no point in taking the chance that you may need something but don’t have it. Some of the most important items to include are duct tape, a flashlight with extra batteries, a bucket, a well-equipped first aid kit, ropes, a waterproof whistle, a fire extinguisher, and, of course, life jackets.
Check The Weather
Another important boating safety tip to keep in mind is to make sure that you know what the weather has in store before you set out. If there’s a storm in the weather forecast, you will do well to postpone your boating trip to a different point in the future. If, for some reason, you’re unable to check the weather forecast, lookout for signs of an impending storm. These include choppy water, dark skies, and sudden changes in wind speed. Have a plan in place when going out in case the weather changes suddenly and make sure you have a radio with you that will enable you to seek help.
Never Drink While Boating
This one should be pretty straightforward as the same dangers that exist around drinking and driving generally also hold true for drinking and boating. Your judgment and reaction time gets impaired and this leaves you predisposed to issues while on the boat. In fact, the marine environment can lead to a bigger and faster impact on a person’s cognitive abilities, making it a very bad idea to drink any amount of alcohol while boating. Operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol is also illegal, so being found doing so can lead to serious legal issues even if you don’t get into or cause an accident in the water.
Take a Boating Safety Course
Finally, it’s a good idea to spare the time and money to take a boating safety course. When you know the rules to follow as well as your responsibilities while on the water, there will be a smaller chance of accidents arising from operator error, which makes up a large percentage of accidents involving boats. You can easily find a course online, and some are even available for free. This makes it easy to find one and commit to it, something that will enable you to boat confidently as you know what you need to do and how to handle different situations.
Going through this list should help you get started on boating safety, and you will enjoy an amazing time with your friends and family whenever you get on the boat. You will also help to set a great example for the people you go boating with, making it a worthy exercise.
