Boating Safely in the Water
Boating safely in the water
English class
November 7, 2011
Boating safely in the water All favorite outdoor activities should be done safely? One all-time favorite activity enjoyed by many is boating on the water. Whether it is a twelve foot raft, or a forty foot yacht, there are many important items to consider before leaving the dock. For example, is there a personal flotation device for each passenger, to include the operator? What about alcoholic beverages?
Did anyone bring any along or had anything to drink earlier; hope not, it is “illegal to drink alcoholic beverages and operate a boat in all fifty States” (Carro, 2010). What about fire extinguishers? Are they on board? Are they full? Are they mounted in an accessible location? If the boat has a motor, whether, electric or gas powered, at least one is required. It is essential that boating fun should always include boating safely.
Boating safely often begins at home, assuming the boat is trailered to its destination. There are some questions to contemplate. Is the boat secured to the trailer and the trailer to the towing vehicle properly before leaving the driveway? How about that drain plug? There are many boaters who wonder why they take on water and they have not left the dock yet.
Boaters sometimes slap themselves on the forehead and say…I forgot to install the drain plug. I have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt” as they say. At that point, there are one or two choices before the boat sinks, Grab the plug, take a swim, and install the plug, or pull the boat back out of the water and install it then. Either way there goes an hour of boating time an individual will never get back. The US Coast Guard says “recreational boating can easily become hazardous if safety is disregarded” (Dunlap, 2011).
Another safety device often forgotten is the PFD or Personal flotation device. They are oftentimes used improperly or not at all contributing to passengers and crew drowning unnecessarily. Life
English class
November 7, 2011
Boating safely in the water All favorite outdoor activities should be done safely? One all-time favorite activity enjoyed by many is boating on the water. Whether it is a twelve foot raft, or a forty foot yacht, there are many important items to consider before leaving the dock. For example, is there a personal flotation device for each passenger, to include the operator? What about alcoholic beverages?
Did anyone bring any along or had anything to drink earlier; hope not, it is “illegal to drink alcoholic beverages and operate a boat in all fifty States” (Carro, 2010). What about fire extinguishers? Are they on board? Are they full? Are they mounted in an accessible location? If the boat has a motor, whether, electric or gas powered, at least one is required. It is essential that boating fun should always include boating safely.
Boating safely often begins at home, assuming the boat is trailered to its destination. There are some questions to contemplate. Is the boat secured to the trailer and the trailer to the towing vehicle properly before leaving the driveway? How about that drain plug? There are many boaters who wonder why they take on water and they have not left the dock yet.
Boaters sometimes slap themselves on the forehead and say…I forgot to install the drain plug. I have “been there, done that, got the t-shirt” as they say. At that point, there are one or two choices before the boat sinks, Grab the plug, take a swim, and install the plug, or pull the boat back out of the water and install it then. Either way there goes an hour of boating time an individual will never get back. The US Coast Guard says “recreational boating can easily become hazardous if safety is disregarded” (Dunlap, 2011).
Another safety device often forgotten is the PFD or Personal flotation device. They are oftentimes used improperly or not at all contributing to passengers and crew drowning unnecessarily. Life
References: Ballingall, A. (2011). Don 't drink and paddle. Maclean 's, 124(33/34), 30. Retrieved October 17, 2011from EBSCOhost. Carro, J. (2010, June 03). Unexpected impact. Understanding the intensified effects of alcohol and drugs on the water, Retrieved October 28, 2011 from http://www.boatingworld.com/CoastGuard/artical/understanding-the-intensified-effects-of-alcohol-and-drugs-on-the-water Dawson, D. (2001). Wherefore art thou?. Yachting, 189(5), 30. Retrieved November 7, 2011 from EBSCOhost. Dunlap, L. (2011). Staying dry on the water. Mobility forum: The Journal of the Air Mobility Command 's magazine, 20(3), 26-27. Retrieved October 17, 2011from EBSCOhost. Kelley, D. (2007). Rules of the water. Boating World, 28(1), 28. Retrieved October 17, 2011from EBSCOhost. Life jackets are life savers. (2005). USA Today magazine, 134(2723), 5. Retrieved October 17, 2011from EBSCOhost. Reininger, S. (2001). Act fast!. Motorboating, 188(2), 58. Retrieved October 17, 2011 from EBSCOhost.