Safe Boating Awareness Week has been the mainstay of boating safety and is a week-long annual event that is recognized by boating communities not just in Canada but worldwide.
In Canada, over 16 million people enjoy recreational boating. And this number continues to go up each boating season as many people new to boating are taking to the water for the first time.
Although this ‘new’ to boating group has made boating safety information more critical than ever before, boating safety was still an important communication by boating safety educators and advocates to make boaters more aware of their roles and responsibilities to themselves, their passengers, other boaters and those on shore.
Safe Boating Awareness Week serves as a reminder for boaters to prioritize safety through public awareness about boating safety and an emphasis on the importance of safe and responsible boating practices. Boating is not quite into full gear yet, with some areas of the country open and some soon to open.
To help boaters focus on what is important, the CSBC and its partners are promoting five key boating safety messages directed toward the most common boating-related incidents. They include:
Wear Your Lifejacket
Over 80% of Canadians who drown while boating were not wearing their lifejacket or not wearing it properly. There are so many choices for lifejackets / personal floatation devices on the market now, it is easy to pick one that suits your ‘boating style’ and is one that you are comfortable wearing all the time you are on the water.
Boat Sober
Whether it’s prescription drugs, alcohol, or cannabis, the use of intoxicants is both irresponsible and illegal. In some provinces, being convicted of impaired operation will also affect your automobile license.
Be Cold Water Safe
Cold water can severely impact your ability to swim or even just stay afloat. Even the best swimmers will feel the effects of a sudden cold-water immersion. No matter your swimming ability, the best chance of surviving an accidental cold-water immersion is to wear your lifejacket!
Take a Boating Course
If you operate a powered recreational vessel, you should have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card or some other proof of competency. But that is just a start, so consider taking some advanced courses. If your boating preference tends towards paddle, this is the perfect time to enroll in some on-water training. Or if you are just starting out, log on and start your boating in a paddle craft responsibly. The site is not a substitute for on-water training, but it does provide a great first step in education about paddle craft.
Be Prepared, You and Your Vessel
Make sure you and your boat are up to your planned on-water activities. That means you are knowledgeable about your upcoming trip, your boat is properly equipped with the required and good-to-have safety equipment, the weather is suitable for the voyage, you have sufficient fuel and you have filed a trip plan. Plus, this is not all about you…it is important to keep in mind that by staying out of trouble you will not be putting pressure on rescue resources.
