Boating safety tips

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. This includes anyone participating in any boating activity.
• Alcohol and boating don't mix. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination. More than 50 percent of drownings result from boating incidents involving alcohol. For the same reasons it is dangerous to operate an automobile while under the influence of alcohol, people should not operate a boat while drinking alcohol.
• Look for the label and use only Coast Guard-approved life jackets for yourself and your passengers when boating and fishing.
• Develop a float plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important; if the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost, or encounters other problems, you want help to be able to reach you.
• Find a boating course in the area (Red Cross, U.S. Power Squadron, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Sailing, etc) -- these courses teach about navigation rules, emergency procedures and the effects of wind, water conditions and weather.
• Watch the weather: Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Watch local news programs. Get out of the water as soon as you see or hear a storm, i.e., thunder and lightning, even if it appears to be in the distance.

Source: American Red Cross