The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Keep these boating tips in mind every time you go out onto the lake and keep boating fun! Choose it and use it! Always wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD)! Don't just have it in the boat, pick one and wear it. The vast majority of Canadian boating victims were not wearing a lifejacket or PFD when they drowned. You can compare trying to don a lifejacket or PFD in an emergency to trying to put on your seatbelt in the middle of a car accident. Think about it. Boat sober! According to the National Drowning Trends Report, 1991-2000 alcohol consumption was involved in 38 percent of all boating deaths, 44 percent of recreational power boating deaths, and 43 percent of canoeing deaths. Know before you go! Check the forecast and create a simple safety checklist. Avoid potential danger by taking a few minutes to make a simple checklist - what's the weather forecast? Any local hazards? What's the condition of the waterways? Where is it shallow? Are there any rapids? Have your maps or charts? Have your lifejackets or PFDs? First aid kit, tools and spare parts? Enough fuel? Safety equipment all working? Told someone where you're going and when to expect you back? Drive your powerboat or PWC responsibly! Look before you act, stay low, driver at moderate speeds, be aware of changing weather conditions, and drive with extreme caution and proper lights after dark. Never stand up in your small powerboat, canoe or other similar watercraft Numerous drownings occur when fishermen stand up to urinate over the side of a boat. Get trained - take some Lifesaving courses Be prepared in the event of an accident - whether your boat capsizes or you need to rescue someone else. Don't overload Avoid capsizing by following the load restrictions of your craft. This includes not only the number of passengers, but also the weight of your gear. Follow the rules of the road Be courteous of others using the waterways and obey all boating rules. Be watchful of swimmers and other boaters, and always have a spotter for water-skiers and tube riders.
