A Course for Safe Boating

Chapter 5 u Accident Prevention and Rescue

Basics of Prevention ƒ ƒ Know and practice the basic safety guidelines and the law for your type of boating. ƒ ƒ Always carry the proper safety equipment and know how to use it. ƒ ƒ Have a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for everyone aboard when boating. ƒ ƒ Have the proper clothing for your type of boating and for the weather and water conditions. ƒ ƒ Be water safe by knowing how to swim and tread water. ƒ ƒ Always boat carefully and with good judgment. Stay within the limits of your boating skills and equipment. ƒ ƒ Never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs—it is against the law, and extremely dangerous to you and others. Basics of Rescue ƒ ƒ The first rule of any rescue situation is to never put yourself or other rescuers in danger when trying to help someone. You don’t want to become a victim and make the situation worse. ƒ ƒ Stay calm. Be sure to carefully judge the situation and condition of the people involved. ƒ ƒ Plan how to use your own and others’ experience and resources to deal with the situation. Experience is a key resource in any type of emergency situation. ƒ ƒ Call for help on a phone or VHF radio. ƒ ƒ If the group size allows, send two or more persons together to get help. ƒ ƒ If you send someone for help, be sure the person knows the details of the situation, knows where to find a phone or other means of communication, knows who to contact, and either directs rescuers to the accident scene or returns to the scene of the accident after successfully contacting authorities. ƒ ƒ Seek basic training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and life-saving skills.

WEBSITE For the most recent California

accident summary and statistics, visit www.dbw.ca.gov/AccidentStats

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California Boating  A Course for Safe Boating