(Newswire.net — December 17, 2020) — There is danger in any form of transport.
Land, air, or sea, accidents can happen literally anywhere around the world. Even the most casual of activities could lead to disaster without sufficient preparation and through the negligence of any form of safety protocol. The same goes for boating and when you’re out on the water, safety should never be taken lightly.
How Serious Is It?
According to a statistics report called Recreational Boating Statistics from the U.S. Coastguard, there were a total of 556 fatal accidents, 3612 non-fatal accidents, and 613 deaths in boating in the year 2019 alone. The main causes of these accidents were operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed, alcohol use, and navigation rules violation. Roughly 500 of these accidents alone were caused by operator inattention. These numbers, compared to aviation and land transportation accidents, are greater. With boating becoming more and more of a popular leisure activity every year, many people still do not know how taking boating safety seriously will save their lives.
Owning a boat is a big responsibility. Much like having your own car, boats need to be constantly maintained, cleaned, and used so as not to have them break down in the middle of watery nowhere. While mechanical errors are a very real occurrence, the very thing that can keep your boat from meeting its ultimate malfunction is you. If you own a boat yourself and you have never set out to sea before, but are planning to, sites like ilearntoboat.com should be worth your while.
If you are new to the nuances of boating safety, read on to learn why this is all a big deal.
It Can Save Your Life and the Lives Of Your Passengers
Observing boating safety at all times can save the lives of everyone aboard, including yours. Ensuring that your boat is seaworthy is but a drop in the bucket of safety. You have to make sure that there are life jackets and first-aid kits on board, you understand the ‘rules of the road’ and reduce risks by any means necessary, your tools are in a place where you can easily find them, there’s sufficient sunscreen on board, and you know how to spot the symptoms of a heat-induced illness. There are many more reasons how keeping your boating trip safe could prevent fatalities, but nothing really beats enrolling in a boating safety course.
It’s A Law
There are over 40 states in the U.S. that require boating operators to have undergone a boating safety course, especially if the operators wish to go out on public waterways. Conversely, in Canada, all its provinces require boaters to fulfill safety course requirements if they wish to operate their boats. Because some boat operators fail to follow this simple rule, the coastguard often patrols the waters, ensuring that everyone’s boating experience is a safe and enjoyable one.
It Helps You Exercise Good Judgment
As stated above, alcoholism is one of the main contributing factors to boating accidents and fatalities in America. Boating on booze is just like drunk driving, wherein you can make irrational or even reckless decisions that could cost you your vessel, the lives of everyone on board, or your life. Once you’re on the water, the weather can change in the blink of an eye; thus, it’s important for you to be constantly on your toes. If you know your limits and stay within those limits, you will be able to prevent any accident from happening.
Speed should be at reasonable levels as excessive speed is among the main causes of boating accidents. Not only does excessive speed endangers everyone on board, but the collision of your boat with another may create hellishly high expenses. You can’t control the weather or the waves, but you can control the levels of safety on your vessel.
You Will Know What to Do in an Emergency Situation
If an accident does happen, nothing can save a captain who doesn’t know their own vessel. Understanding boating safety can mean the difference between life and death. You will be responsible for everyone’s safety, whether you like it or not.
Life jackets should fit properly and flares should be within reach in case anything goes awry. A fire at sea could be one of the worst things to ever happen to a boat, therefore the presence of a fire extinguisher and knowing how to operate one is a must. After going through a safety course, you will be educated enough in the sensibilities of emergency procedure, and you will perfect your responsibility over keeping everyone afloat.
Safe Sailing
You can never put a price on safety. Whether you are driving a car, piloting an aircraft, or cruising on a boat, safety should never come at a cost. Boating safety is no joke and in practicing it and taking it seriously only you can prevent yourself from sending everyone on board to a watery grave.