Safety
Don’t Rock the Boat on Water Safety
By
May 23, 2009 - 9:44:38 AM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Augusta, Ga. -- More than 70 million Americans enjoy recreational boating each year. Unfortunately, about 3,500 people were injured and more than 700 died in boating accidents in 2006, according to the latest statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard. That’s why it is so important to
practice boat and water sports safety.

Here are 10 ways to ensure a safe boat ride this summer.

1. Wear life vests. Most boating-related drownings can be prevented by
wearing personal flotation devices. Of the 710 people who drowned in
2006, nine out of 10 were not wearing life jackets. Recreational boats
must carry one appropriately sized life jacket approved by the U.S.
Coast Guard for each person onboard, and the jackets must be kept
accessible and in good condition. Children 14 and under need to wear
child-sized life jackets and must wear them at all times onboard. The
life jacket should fit snugly and not allow the child’s chin or ears
to slip through the neck opening.

2. Don’t substitute floats or toys for life jackets. Air-filled
swimming aids, such as water wings and inner tubes, are not safety
devices and should never be substituted for portable flotation devices.

3. Take a boating education course before operating a boat or personal
water craft. Contrary to popular belief, driving a boat is not the same
as driving a car. Most reported boating incidents in 2006 involved
operator-controllable factors: carelessness or recklessness,
inattentiveness, inexperience or unsafe speeds. Two-thirds of the
fatalities occurred on boats where the boat operator had not attended a
boating safety education course.

4. Do not allow children under age 16 to operate personal water craft.
In 2003, at least 200 children ages 14 and under sustained injuries
involving personal watercraft. In 2006, personal water craft accidents
accounted for 24 percent of all boating accidents reported to the U.S.
Coast Guard.

5. Never drink alcoholic beverages while boating. Alcohol use affects
judgment, vision, balance and coordination. Reports suggest that alcohol
was a contributing factor in about one in five boating fatalities.

6. Make sure riders are seated and holding on while the boat is in
operation. This is especially true for little ones, whose low weight
could make it easy for rough waters to bump them out of the boat.

7. Avoid boating alone. Even adults and seasoned swimmers can get into
trouble around water.

8. Always have a spotter. If pulling a skier or other water recreation
device, always have someone other than the driver to watch for hidden
dangers and quickly alert the driver if the rider falls. Also, whether
tubing, skiing, wakeboarding or participating in other water sports, all
participants should wear life vests.

9. Get a Vessel Safety Check. The Vessel Safety Check is a free public
service provided by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power
Squadron volunteer organizations. Volunteers check safety equipment and
provide information about equipment purpose, safety procedures and
applicable regulations. For more information, visit
vesselsafetycheck.org.

10. Be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. All
internal combustion engines emit CO, an odorless, colorless, poisonous
gas. In the early stages, the symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to
seasickness and CO can kill in a matter of minutes. Potential CO
poisoning exists during the operation of any gasoline-powered engine. To
avoid CO poisoning, be aware of the risk, ensure sufficient ventilation,
properly install and maintain equipment and use CO detectors.

You can never go overboard on water safety. For the welfare of your
children, your family and all those boating with you, please be careful.


MCG Health, Inc. (d/b/a MCGHealth) is a not-for-profit corporation
operating the MCGHealth Medical Center, MCGHealth Children’s Medical
Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center, and related outpatient
facilities and services throughout the state. For more information,
please visit mcghealth.org.

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