Being on a boat may not require anything more than stepping aboard, but what most people don’t realize is the risk involved in this very simple act. A majority of people are under the assumption that there is nothing to fear from boating because they are surrounded by a body of water, but just like with driving or flying, there are different risks to consider. While you may not have to worry about dropping out of the sky or driving off a cliff, boating can be dangerous even on a clear, sunny day. Any boat owner or operator will be trained in the pitfalls and dangers of open water, but for those not versed in boater safety, One Stop Motors.com has a few basic tips on staying safe.
Boats are made to float, but at their core they are bulky, heavy beasts. When the hull is breached, so goes the unspoken contract between your boat and the water. Like a lead weight, she will sink. Where will that leave you? Easy, you’ll be swimming back to shore. Unlike cars, where you crash and then walk away (if you are lucky), when you crash or sink in a boat, your stranded in an over-sized nature-made pool. What a lot of people don’t know is that this can and does happen often, even under the clearest sky. In fact, there are more boating accidents on nice days than on bad weather ones. This is due to an overwhelming boating population, lack of awareness and a disregard for the state boating safety laws.
The first step in boater safety is a no-brainier; maintenance and understand your boat. Before you hit the water, you’re boat should be up to legal code and registration. If you don’t own the boat, make sure when you board you should ask the skipper if the vessel is up to snuff. While you do this, you should already be obeying the number one rule to individual boating safety; wear a life jacket. Life jackets aka Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) are divided into five separate categories.
Type I PFD, Offshore Life Jacket, are jackets made for ruff, choppy waters further away from shore. The reason these are effective is because they are designed to turn a person face up in the even that they pass out. Type II is a Near-shore Vest and are more for calm waters. They lack the capacity to flip an unconscious person, hence why they are not ideal for long expeditions. Flotation Aid is the Type III PFD and are generally used for water sports like wave-runners and water skiing. Type IV are Throwable Devices. You know them as “lifesavers” and usually come in the shape of the famous candy named after them. These you toss overboard when someone falls into the water without a vest. They are not a long-term waiting option. The last type is Special Use Device and belong to specific water activities such as Kayaking and windsurfing. The thing that sets them most apart from the other four is that they require the wearer to follow the instructions on their label for them to be acceptable. If you are unsure as to which type you will need for which type of activity, go with Type I and have a few Type IV on deck to be safe.
Just because you’re adorned with a life preserver does not mean you are entirely safe. If you are stranded in the water, hypothermia becomes a quiet, creeping danger. Boaters learn in their safety class about the survival method “H.E.L.P.” or Heat Escape Lessening Posture. What HELP is designed to do is conserve heat in stranded drifters floating in cold water. It requires three steps. First, draw your knees in towards your chest. Next, keep your face forward and above water. Last is to bring hug your arms around your chest and lock them in at the armpits. HELP reduces the amount of surface area your body is exposed to cold water. However, it is highly advised that this method not be used in rivers or strong currents as you will be swept away much easier.
There is much more still left to be learned regarding boating safety, but at least now you have a general handle on what goes into the risks. Check back with One Stop Motors.com as we continue our coverage on boating and get deeper into safety terms and practices. The difference of simply knowing may make the difference to surviving an unforeseen emergency. Until next time, stay safe out there and keep your eyes on that horizon.
Tyler Baker; OSM Writer
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