Previous Page  113 / 135 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 113 / 135 Next Page
Page Background

California Boating 

A Course for Safe Boating

111

Chapter 5

u

Accident Prevention and Rescue

PADDLING ON FLATWATER OR THE OCEAN

Weather and water conditions can change very quickly and with little

warning. Be ready for the unexpected.

Prevention

ƒ

ƒ

Do not overload the vessel.

ƒ

ƒ

Check and monitor weather and ocean conditions.

ƒ

ƒ

Do not go out when conditions are worse than your skills or your equipment

can handle.

ƒ

ƒ

Carry the proper safety equipment and wear the right clothing for the water

temperature.

ƒ

ƒ

Get training in the techniques used to right a sea kayak or other paddle

craft. Practice these techniques in a calm and supervised setting, such as a

boating class.

ƒ

ƒ

If you are paddling in open water you should know and practice open water

rescues. These can be rescues for one or more boats.

Rescue

ƒ

ƒ

Try to right the boat if possible.

ƒ

ƒ

Once the boat is righted, climb back in and begin bailing out the water.

ƒ

ƒ

Count the number of people to make sure that no one is missing.

ƒ

ƒ

Check the group for signs of hypothermia and take necessary actions.

ƒ

ƒ

If you’re unable to right the boat, climb on top of the boat and signal for help.

Case Study

The operator had overloaded his small row boat and was allowing his

passengers to ride in an unsafe position on the gunwales and transom. As a

prank, all the passengers moved to the stern of the vessel at once, swamping

and sinking the vessel. During the crazy scene that followed, two of the

passengers drowned. The operator and many of the passengers were under

the influence of alcohol.

Questions:

1. Identify the mistakes that the people made and the proper actions they

could have taken.

2. What could these people have done differently to prevent this accident?

3. What steps could you take to rescue the victims and/or make the

situation better?