Boaters Be Prepared

Simple Tips - Be Your best Helper

When boating, the possibility of falling or going overboard may end in a potentially serious state of affairs. If you are racing or boating at high rates of speed, you should start with a PFD (personal flotation device) and it should be worn from the start. Also, when boating in unfamiliar waters or during the passing of a rough patch of weather. On my PFD there's mounted, a waterproof cell phone case that seals your phone from any moisture, dirt or grit. If things look stormy the phone goes into the case, or in the case of a sinking boat - I figure there's a chance to slip it in the case and seal it before I'm completely in the water. We haven't had to use it yet and hope we never will.

Another thing to keep you eyes on is white water, dams and the number one cause of boating crashes - submerged objects. Statically there are more accidents involving boaters than by any other type of transportation and the main cause - striking semi/fully submerged objects, like a tree trunk for instance.

Now if you're in a highly traveled waterway like a channel or river, you're in better shape for a rescue than when out for a cruise in the ocean. Be sure to give your travel itinerary to a trustworthy source and don't deviate without calling in any changes of plans to your lifeline on the shore.

If you fall into cold waters, hypothermia can set in rapidly, leave your clothes on and try to draw your legs in and become as much of a "ball" as possible. If several people are in the water with you, try to form a ring and arms embracing - form a circle and retain some of the heat that would otherwise be lost to the chilly water.

The best things to use as safety precautions when on your boat is having it in good running condition, stocked with proper safety gear and use some good old common sense