Safety – Preventing Injuries on Boats
The most common cause of injuries on board a boat is from people losing their balance and falling over, or people colliding with one another or a hard object. The injuries sustained are more severe than you might first think – injuries to the face and jaw (teeth), broken bones, severe head injuries and burns are .
What Can You Do?
As a Responsible Skipper
- Know the ‘rules of the road’ at sea so you can avoid collisions
- Before setting out, brief your passengers about safety
- Make sure you keep the boat well-balanced when you stow gear
- Always apply throttle changes gently
- Avoid excessive speed, especially when conditions are rough
- Minimise the amount of alcohol you drink before or during a trip
Before heading out make your vessel a safe one
- Ensure appropriate safety equipment is on board and is in working condition
- Install handrails
- Stow things away properly and avoid clutter
As a passenger
- Maintain your balance – one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself
- Go backward down ladders
- Sit down in rough weather
- On sailing boats – watch out for the boom
- Don’t drink to much booze
Don’t let your mates become a statistic this summer.
