Although boating accidents are not nearly as frequent as car crashes, there are still a number of fatalities and injuries on the water each year in Alabama. Many of these involve children, out with families for summer fun.
The biggest tragedy is that most boating accidents are nearly preventable with a few safety measures:
Boating under the influence is a crime in all 50 states. This shouldn’t have to be said, but the reality is that many people still drink while boating, and they cause most of the boating fatalities each year. The motion of a boat and effects of the sun can enhance the effect, and a driver can find themselves more inebriated than they expected. To stay safe from those who may be under the influence, don't be out on the water at dusk, don’t swim out in open water, and stay close to your vessel to offer additional protection. And stay alert! You can’t prevent someone from making bad decisions, but you can try to stay far away from them.
Safe boating starts with a life jacket. Even strong swimmers can find themselves in trouble for a variety of reasons. By law, you must have as many life jackets on board as boaters, and children may not wear adult jackets – they’ll pop right out of it.
Avoid dangerous behavior, and also avoid possible fines by knowing the rules before you go on the water. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) website has compiled Alabama's bearing rules and regulations in one place here: https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rules-and-regulations
Make sure no one is around the propeller and that all are accounted for when boarding the boat from the water. Walk around the boat and pay special attention to any children in the water. Propeller guards are relatively inexpensive, and can be installed for extra protection against gruesome propeller injuries
This is simple but so true. You can’t have the second without the first, so practice safe boating, stay away from crowds, and be safe so that fun is the only memory you take home.
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