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Apr. 5th, 2012 09:09 pmRecreational boating season is approaching in the Northern Hemisphere, and I’d like to remind people:
a) Do not drink and boat. If you’re impaired enough that you could get pulled over by the police while driving a car, you DEFINITELY shouldn’t be operating a boat. It’s harder to do and you probably have less practice.
b) For the love of all that’s holy, life jackets are NOT optional accessories. Don’t tell me what a strong swimmer you are, because oceans and even bigger lakes have these things called currents. Currents are kinda sorta dangerous. Not to mention that the water in swimming pools is heated, but lake water is cold and sea water is very cold (sometimes EXTREMELY cold, depending on where and when you are). Also, don’t tell me life jackets are too expensive. If you can afford to go boating, you can afford a flipping life jacket. Otherwise stay home and sail toys in your bathtub.
c) Buying life jackets for the children in your party but not the adults is a step in the right direction. Children should not be made to die for the stupidity/tight-fistedness of their parents. Well done, you. However, even if they don’t die, they’ll be horribly traumatized if you guys get in a boating accident and they have to watch their non-life-jacket-having parents die in front of them. Yes, it happens. PLEASE don’t potentially orphan your kids. And if you insist on it, make sure you have plenty of life insurance so they can afford the many years of therapy they’ll need.
d) If you get capsized, statistically speaking you’re much better off clinging to your capsized boat and waiting for rescue than swimming for shore. I know swimming for it is more macho, but trust me here. Or trust the statisticians.
e) Don’t forget the sunscreen. Sun reflecting off water can give you a hardcore burn, way worse than if you’d stayed on the beach.
Obviously all of the above are subject to certain caveats in certain very specific situations, and are intended merely as general rules. Except maybe the sunscreen one. I wracked my brain and still couldn’t come up with any scenario, however far-fetched, where it was a good idea to avoid sunscreen while boating on a sunny day. But perhaps my circle is more creative than me.
a) Do not drink and boat. If you’re impaired enough that you could get pulled over by the police while driving a car, you DEFINITELY shouldn’t be operating a boat. It’s harder to do and you probably have less practice.
b) For the love of all that’s holy, life jackets are NOT optional accessories. Don’t tell me what a strong swimmer you are, because oceans and even bigger lakes have these things called currents. Currents are kinda sorta dangerous. Not to mention that the water in swimming pools is heated, but lake water is cold and sea water is very cold (sometimes EXTREMELY cold, depending on where and when you are). Also, don’t tell me life jackets are too expensive. If you can afford to go boating, you can afford a flipping life jacket. Otherwise stay home and sail toys in your bathtub.
c) Buying life jackets for the children in your party but not the adults is a step in the right direction. Children should not be made to die for the stupidity/tight-fistedness of their parents. Well done, you. However, even if they don’t die, they’ll be horribly traumatized if you guys get in a boating accident and they have to watch their non-life-jacket-having parents die in front of them. Yes, it happens. PLEASE don’t potentially orphan your kids. And if you insist on it, make sure you have plenty of life insurance so they can afford the many years of therapy they’ll need.
d) If you get capsized, statistically speaking you’re much better off clinging to your capsized boat and waiting for rescue than swimming for shore. I know swimming for it is more macho, but trust me here. Or trust the statisticians.
e) Don’t forget the sunscreen. Sun reflecting off water can give you a hardcore burn, way worse than if you’d stayed on the beach.
Obviously all of the above are subject to certain caveats in certain very specific situations, and are intended merely as general rules. Except maybe the sunscreen one. I wracked my brain and still couldn’t come up with any scenario, however far-fetched, where it was a good idea to avoid sunscreen while boating on a sunny day. But perhaps my circle is more creative than me.
