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Boating Safety - It's For Everyone
Boating is one of the safest family activities there is. Statistics show it is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving. What goes wrong?
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Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one of the safest family activities
there is. U.S. statistics show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe
as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving. By practicing safe boating, you
will provide a wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your children a love of the
water that will last them a lifetime.
So What Goes Wrong?
Having made such a sweeping endorsement of the relative safety of boating, how do we
explain the glaring headlines which we find in the press on an all to regular basis?
Fortunately, for you and me, there are numerous public agencies which spend a lot of
time and money doing the research and compiling data. After researching their findings
it becomes obvious that a little preparation and planning can all but eliminate the
risks.
Some Pertinent Facts:
The most common accident to passengers and crew is falling overboard. According
to the statistics over 40% of all fatal boating accidents start this way. It can
be avoided if boaters make sure they have good footing and a good hand-hold at all
times. An, age-old, seafaring reminder, which I first heard in the Coast Guard,
goes like this. "One hand for the ship, one hand for the sailor."
Children should never be allowed to move about on an underway boat. If you need
to move around on the boat, for any reason, reduce speed and make sure to get and
keep a grip with at least one hand.
Alcohol and water don't mix. In a Red Cross study, two-thirds of boating injury
victims had consumed alcohol. Almost 40% had an alcohol level above the legal limit.
Besides being illegal, it's dangerous to operate any kind of machinery while drinking.
A boat is no exception.
35% of boating accidents were directly attributable to alcohol use and the overwhelming
primary cause of fatalities was alcohol-related. If you drink and boat, you are more
likely to be involved in an accident, and once involved, more likely to die.
53% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, while 39% suffered trauma and 9% died of
other causes.
What About All Those Drownings?
A recent Red Cross study noted 92% of boating-related drowning victims were either
not wearing a PFD or life jacket or were wearing one incorrectly.
The US Coast Guard is even more to the point, stating that of the 519 boaters who
drowned in the year 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately
445 of those boaters who drowned. In 2000, approximately eight out of every ten
victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
Always carry enough Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) for each person on board,
and make sure that each of them knows where they are and how to use them. It's
your responsability, Captain. No one, least of all yourself, wants to hear that
you thought they knew how to put on a PFD. If anyone won't prove their knowledge
of the devise, or buddy up with someone to teach them, leave them ashore. You'll
both be better off.
Children and non-swimmers should wear one at all times that the boat is underway.
For water-skiing, fishing, or simply cruising, PFDs are absolutely essential. It's
now even easier to find the ideal PFD because they're available in a wide array
of sizes, colors and patterns. You can now choose one in your favorite color, or
to match your swimsuit or boat. Just make sure it fits properly!
Does boating education help in preventing accidents?
I can't stress this point enough.
A recent Florida study brought out these interesting facts.
72% of operators involved in boating accidents had no formal instruction in the
operation of a boat.
2.5 times as many accidents involve boaters who have had no boating safety instruction.
Boating is a wonderful pastime, and lots of fun but, there are a few things, that
one needs to know, in order for it to be a safe pastime. And don't worry about
looking silly, I've been around boats all my life, (53 years) and hardly a day
goes by that I don't learn something new or discover a new and better way of
doing something.
Two years ago I took a boating safety course with the idea that, with all my
experience, I might be of help to some of the new people. Fact is, there were
so many things I didn't know, or had forgotten, that I spent a good deal of
time just asking questions. When the class was over, several of the students
came up and thanked me for asking all the questions they weren't sure how to ask.
Guess I was a help to the new people, after all, just not in the way I figured.
Weather you are an old "salt", with years of boating experience, or a "lubber",
who gets lost in the bathtub, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and take
an approved boating safety course. The time to think through, and plan for a
journey in a strange environment is before you make the trip.
Safety Tips
To prevent ending up in the emergency department as a result of carelessness
during your next boating trip, the American College of Emergency Physicians
recommends the following safety tips:
* Tell someone when you're going, who is with you and how long you'll be away.
Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before
leaving.
* Before starting your engine, open hatches, run blower, and most importantly,
carefully sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas.
* When changing seats, stay low and near center line of a small boat.
* Always carry life jackets and first aid equipment.
* Watch the weather. Sudden wind shifts, light flashes and choppy water can mean
a storm is brewing.
* If you will be fishing, keep fishing and hunting gear clean and well packed.
A loose fish hook can cause a lot of pain and ruin a great outing. Bring an
extra length of line to secure boat and equipment.
* Never drink alcoholic beverages on a boat. Being "tipsy" can result in falling
overboard. Your ability to swim to safety or call for help is greatly reduced
as alcohol slows reactions.
So There You Have It
To learn more about safe boating, I'd like to suggest these Online sources of
information. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the U.S. Power Squadrons. Our sister-site,
Ask-BoatCat.com offers more tips on boating safety and a complete page of links to
Boating Safety related websites on the Internet.
May all of your boating adventures be joyous and happy ones, unblemished by the
blight of accident or injury.
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James "Doc" Lewis has been "messin about in boats" for as long as he can remember.
He is owner/operator of BoatDocs1, a full-service boat detailing-yacht maintenance
company serving the Emerald Coast region of Florida. To learn more about boats and
keeping them looking their best visit his web site at: http://www.boatdocs1.com/
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You are welcome to distribute this article via Email or on the Internet.
The only provision is that it be published in it's entirety including this
resource box. For print publication contact the author at Doc@boatdocs1.com
Related articles will be found at boatdocs1.com
©2004-05 BoatDocs1
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