Summer Boat Safety Tips & Hints

If you haven’t been out on the water for this summer already, odds are pretty high you have a trip planned in the near future. Coral Springs residents, and really anyone else who lives in Florida, knows that a day at the beach on the waves, or even an afternoon cruising through the vast Everglades, is both fun and exciting. It is important, however, to take precautions and make preparations to prevent your boating trip from becoming both dangerous and stressful.

Remember and practice these summer boating safety tips and hints:

• Sober boating is safe boating: According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, there were 736
  boating accidents and 62 boating accident fatalities in Florida during 2013. Approximately
  15% of those fatalities and an unknown number of the accidents were caused
  by boater intoxication. Not only is boating under the influence just as
  dangerous as driving under the influence, it is also just as illegal.
• Wear life vests: Make sure everyone who is onboard your vessel is always wearing a life
  vest. Floatation devices and life preservers are not just for the young,
  old, or inexperienced. Falling overboard was the leading cause of boating
  accident fatality in 2013, and the majority of those deaths were people
  over the age of 35. Exhaustion and hypothermia can tire someone within
  minutes, causing them to lose consciousness or strength and sink under
  the surface while awaiting rescue.
• Learn CPR: The American Red Cross and other safety organizations routinely offer free
  CPR courses. Before you hit the waves, you and someone you boat with should
  attend a class or two. By having more than one person onboard who knows
  CPR, you eliminate the chance of the only trained person being the one
  who falls overboard. Emergency post-drowning CPR is often the only difference
  between saving someone’s life and losing someone’s life.
• Don’t speed and keep a safe distance: Losing control of a boat may seem unlikely but it can and does happen.
  Vessels can capsize if you speed or boat recklessly. You should maintain
  a safe distance away from other watercraft, big and small, to reduce the
  chance of a dangerous collision.
• Check the weather: Mother Nature can be our greatest opponents out on the water. Check weather
  forecasts in the area before you boat. You should also have an onboard
  radio to listen to important forecasts as the day goes on. Florida residents
  are well aware of how rapidly the weather can change from bright and sunny
  to dark and raining. Never sail into a storm intentionally.

If you or a loved one are hurt in a boating accident despite your best efforts, you may need to hold the liable party accountable in court to gain proper compensation. Call 954.522.9322 to connect with The Law Offices of Jason S. Goodman, P.A. Our Coral Springs personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal options during a free initial consultation.