We are in the middle of the year and it is time when everyone is looking for a getaway to the beach to ditch the high temperatures. Sun bathing or dipping in the water is not the only thing one can do at the beach as there are other amazing activities like surfing and boating accessible today. If you are lucky enough to be living in a place closer to the ocean, you can enjoy boating with your family and friends and have the pleasure of swimming in deep sea.
Though it is an interesting adventure, but you never know when things can change. It’s just a matter of time when things can actually go wrong and you can be in deep trouble. Being at a place that is far away from land can be dangerous and to avoid sudden occurrences, you should know the safety tips of boating. We have accumulated some safety tips that you should cater to while boating this summer. Continue reading to have a safe and joyous boating trip.
Get The Vessel Checked Is The First Safety Measure
You should be well aware of the vessel that will carry you far in the ocean. It is important to get it checked with the coast guard auxiliary before boarding on to it as if something goes wrong with the vessel there, you won’t be able to do much. The authorities perform free vessel safety checks with the ambition that people on the boat are safe.
It is the first step everyone should take before hopping in. it is a no penalty check and if the vessel fails to provide much needed safety, no penalties are applied to it. As the authorities are always available on the shore, you can request a safety check without paying anything and it is better to do that because incidents can happen at any time.
Make Sure To Take A Boating Safety Course
As we continue to provide you with the safety tips of boating, the next tip is to take a boating safety course and enlighten yourself with important measures and possible accidents that can happen while boating. There are many centers nearby where you can find a boating safety course. In the course you will get to know the basics like how to handle the boat or how to read the weather.
Plus they will also guide you to what you should do under possible circumstances. If you are planning a trip with your family it would be better to take your family along for the courses so that everyone has the basic knowledge of boating. Moreover, you can check out the U.S Coast Guard’s official website for the courses as they have a list of options available.
Wearing A Life Jacket
Life jackets are the most important equipment everyone needs while boating. It is made compulsory by the authorities to have life jackets for each person on board. In case of an emergency out in the ocean, life jacket is your first safety equipment and should be worn by children and people who don’t know how to swim at all times.
However, before setting for sail, it is appropriate to check the life jackets to make sure if there are no leaks in them. It is useless if there is a leak and should be discarded and all this should be done before getting on board. Wear them during the whole journey because you can trip over the boat without realizing.
Check The Equipment
Aside from life jackets, there are other safety equipments that you need on the boat. You have to make sure that the boat is stocked with equipments like fire extinguisher, emergency supplies like a map, flares and first aid kit. All this has to be checked before the boat dispatches from the dock.
Keep emergency supplies safe in a floating pouch with your cell phones for safe keeping. Make sure to check the boat lights as well if your plans are to spend the night there. Once you have acquired all the safety equipment and manual, you can set for sail, but be very careful as you have to rely on the available stuff when on board.