Holiday Weekend Boating Safety

With the coming 4th of July weekend, I would be remiss if I didn't urge boaters to have fun and stay safe on the water. With undoubtedly more boat traffic than normal weekends, July 4th could bring more opportunities for accidents and mishaps. Here are a few boating safety tips to keep in mind while navigating congested waterways:

1. Don't boat while intoxicated. Drinking while boating is a bad idea for operators and passengers. Avoid hefty fines, losing your operator's license, or jail time by not drinking and boating.

2. Wear a life jacket while boating. Nearly all boating fatalities happen as a result of drowning and could have been avoided with the use of a life jacket. Federal law requires children under 12 to wear a life jacket while the boat is moving.

3. Exercise patience. Congested waterways are bound to cause delays. Staying patient and keeping your cool will help in sound decision making while boating. The Navigation Rules admonish boaters to "proceed at a safe speed" in order to avoid collision. I can't think of a better time to heed this rule than on a busy holiday weekend.

4. Be alert. With friends and family on your boat and lots of activity to distract you, consider designating a person to aid in maintaining a proper lookout. Two sets of eyes on the water and other boats will help to avoid collisions or other potentially unsafe situations.

Related Articles:

• Reasons to Wear a Life Jacket

• Choosing and Using a Life Jacket

• Navigation Rules: Maintaining a Proper Lookout

• Navigation Rules: Proceed at a Safe Speed

• Boating While Intoxicated - Don't Do It!