Montauk Pioneer - May 16, 2008

May 17 through May 23 is National Safe Boating Week and the National Safe Boating Council is celebrating its fifty year anniversary. This committee promotes safe boating practices through many different avenues. One way to keep yourself safe whether you're on a boat or fishing is to wear a life jacket. Life jackets are also called Personal Floatation Devices or PFD's for short. There are several different types depending on what your purpose is. Type 1 is the Offshore Life Jacket which is good if you're in open or rough water or if rescue will take awhile to get to you. Although this one is bulky it's the best one because it has a highly visible color and will turn most unconscious people face up in the water. The Type 2 is the Near Shore Buoyant Vest. It's more comfortable and is a good one if you're in calmer and more inland water. The down side is that it will not turn up some unconscious wearers. The Type 3 is a Floatation Aid and is designed for general boating or activity. It is probably the most comfortable but you may have to tilt your head back a little to avoid drowning should something happen to you. Type 4 is a throwable device like a cushion or ring buoy and is a good backup to the three already mentioned types. The Type 5 is a Special Use Device and is used for specific activities and it's very important to read the label. These are usually used when you go water skiing or kayaking.

No matter which one you use, make sure that it isn't torn anywhere especially where it's sewn together. Also check that all the buckles and straps work and that the size fits you.

Life jackets not only increase your chances of surviving a drowning, but they can also save you from trauma, cardiac arrest, hypothermia and carbon monoxide poisoning. You wouldn't set out on the road without wearing a seat belt, and the same goes for putting on your life jacket before heading out on the water.

There are other common sense factors you should remember when boating. Paying attention to where you are going and what you're doing is number one when you have accepted the responsibility of driving the boat. Operator inattention is the number one factor that contributes to accidents. So try not to distract your mom or dad from operating the vessel that you're on. Going too fast or not having a proper lookout are also factors that can lead to an accident. You can help your parents by reminding them to slow down and if you see something that you don't think they see, you should get their attention and let them know. Keeping the boat balanced is important too. The number of passengers, gear and coolers are important things to be aware of. Make sure you are not over the number of passengers allowed on the boat and also consider the total weight of everyone. Make sure all gear is secure so that if something does happen, it doesn't slide around and injure someone. Some items that you should have with you before you head out include a flashlight, fire extinguisher, a whistle, a pair of oars, a first aid kit, a bucket, blankets and a mirror. If the engine fails, you can use the oars to manually get back to safety and the mirror will come in handy during the day if you have to signal for help by having the sun reflect off of it. The flashlight will come in handy if it gets dark or if you need to use Morse code to send out an SOS and the blankets will keep you warm if it gets too cold or your clothes get wet.

In honor of celebrating National Safe Boating Week, you should educate yourself by logging onto www.safeboatingcouncil.org and learn all you can so you're better prepared the next time you're out on a boat. You can also get your pledge card on that site, showing everyone that you pledge boat safety every time you go out on the water and that you will be responsible by following the rules, including wearing your life jacket.