Boating is a great way to relax and enjoy an adventure but there are certain things you will need to do to ensure the safety of the crew members and passengers. You need to have the right safety equipment onboard so that you can act quickly in case of an accident or prevent an accident.
Inflatable life jackets are also called personal floatation devices and these are critical to the safety of everyone onboard the boat. There are different types of life jackets depending on the conditions you are boating in and the primary activity you will be engaged in. You have to consider the specific requirements of your passengers as well when choosing the right type of life jackets. And a life jacket should not be too tight; it should fit snugly to your body without riding up when you are in the water.
It is essential to have life jackets in a range of sizes so that you can accommodate passengers of all sizes and ages. The life jackets should also be readily accessible so they have to be stored in accessible locations. You can have them stored under seats or have a storage compartment especially for it. When having passengers on board, it may be best to have them wear the life jackets at all times.
Then there are wearable life jackets and throwable devices
The best protection will be provided by the wearable life jackets. The throwable devices will be used if somebody is in the water and these will be ring buoys and square cushions. You should have both in your boat. And it is important to have lifejackets inspected before you start the journey. Check whether they show any damage or signs of wear. Outdated life jackets should be replaced to ensure that the properly function when you need it.
The secondary floatation devices such as cushions and ring should also be located in accessible locations. You should have fire extinguishers on the boat for safety especially if the boat is powered by engines and fuel systems. This can be used to suppress fires in the engine compartment or any other area that has fire hazards. The size of the extinguisher should be appropriate for the size and type of the boat. These should be inspected regularly.
There should be a sufficiently stocked first-aid kit for any accidents that occur
Some of the items you should have here are adhesive tape, bandages, pain relievers, antiseptic wipes and seasickness medication. In an emergency, it is important that you have the means to communicate your plight and this requires having communication devices such as a cell phone, VHF marine radio and emergency locator beacons on the boat. You can contact other vessels and the Coast Guard using VHF radios.
You have to train your crew to use it and keep it in good working order. If you are in distress and need to inform search and rescue teams of your location, you can use emergency position indicating radio beacons and personal locator beacons.
