Safety and boats is something that everyone who takes part in water activities should know about. Even if you are not operating the vessel, whether it is large or small, you should be aware of the precautions you should take while in the vessel, as well as what you should do in case of emergency. If you are introducing your family to watercraft, make sure you educate them on boating safety before they go out on the water.

The most important element in water safety is the availability and correct usage of a life jacket. There must be one life jacket per person on all watercraft. On smaller watercraft, everyone should wear a life jacket at all times, these types of water craft include sailboats, canoes, kayaks, Seadoos, motor boats, etc. On larger boats such as cruise ships or ferries it is not so important to wear your life jacket at all times. In those cases it is important that you know where to find a life jacket if one is needed.

The next safety tip is to never operate a watercraft while or after consuming alcohol. Drinking and boating is the number one biggest cause of boating fatalities. Never allow anyone you know to mix drinking with boating, it is just bad news. It is as serious an offence as mixing alcohol and motor vehicles, so it needs to be taken seriously on boats as well.

Another way that you can improve the security of your time on the water is to make sure that whenever you go out for a trip, whether it is long or quick, make sure that you tell someone about your plan – where you’re planning to go, how long you’ll be gone, when you are leaving and when you should be back. That way you will know that if you get in trouble or stranded, that someone will be able to come and rescue you or send help as soon as possible. If you don’t always tell someone where you’re going, then it may be a while before they think you are actually missing, and even then they may not know where to look for you.

There are a number of safety items that you are legally required by the coastguard to carry with you on your boat. For the exact list for your particular type and size of boat, contact your local coast guard or search their website. At a minimum, boats are required to have one pfd per passenger, a sound making device, a bailing device, and a light. This is not a complete list, so make sure you check for your type of boat and outfit it with the required safety and emergency kit.

Watercraft of all types are a fun part of holidays and summertime. However, watercraft can also be very dangerous. If you follow some common sense safety tips concerning watercraft then you and your family can have fun and be safe at the same time..

A part of responsible parenting is teaching your children about personal watercraft and personal watercraft safety. Most experts agree that it is important to introduce your children to the water as early as possible. A failure to introduce them to the water at an early age might create a fear of the water which will be hard to over come at a later age. Children and personal watercraft can be a safe combination as long as certain precautions are taken.

I have most often heard that the youngest you should start bringing your child out on the water on your pwc is between the ages of 2 and 3. Just make sure you are ready, because once you have started bringing them out with you, you won’t be able to keep them on the shore!

The first step in introducing your child to personal watercraft is to purchase an appropriate PFD (personal flotation device) or life jacket. Always be certain to buy a life jacket that has extra buoyant material on the front of the life jacket. This extra flotation material on the front of the jacket flips the child on to his back once immersed in water. The best life jackets are those that have been approved by the Coast Guard. Check the label on the inside of the jacket for a seal of approval. Every life jacket will have height and weight specifications. Always make sure that your child fits within the height and weight specifications for a particular jacket. Never buy a life jacket thinking your child will grow into it and thereby last 2 or more seasons.

An easy way to introduce your child to personal watercraft is through a canoe. Choose a calm day. Place the child on the bottom of the canoe just in front of the stern paddler. As you start to paddle explain to the child how pushing the water backwards with the paddle makes the canoe propel forwards. Gently show the child how leaning in one direction tips the canoe towards that direction. Talk about the importance of staying balanced in the canoe.

To help you decide when it is time to bring your child out on the pwc, make sure you would be comfortable throwing your child off the pwc. If the child is not able to deal with falling off the pwc, then it is not time to go out on the water quite yet. When you are introducing your child to their first seadoo ride, just go for an idle ride to see how they enjoy it. Again, don’t go at a speed faster than you would be comfortable throwing your child into the water. Remember that a young childs body is much more susceptible to shock and impact, and a hard impact can easily seriously harm a child.

Teaching your child about personal watercraft and personal watercraft safety is important but also can be fun. You can make this important learning experience into something fun for both you and your child. Introduce your child to this wonderful summer time activity slowly. Make sure they grasp the importance of the safety rules. Remember a child that is confident and experienced around the water will be likely to be safer and make safer choices. Teaching your child about personal watercraft safety can be a rewarding endeavor.