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Notes from the Lake Safety Committee
by Don Harris, Chair, Lake Safety Committee
WHILE BOATING . . . .
 | ALWAYS WEAR a personal flotation device (PFD). In 80% of boating fatalities, the victim was NOT wearing a PFD. |
| KEEP YOUR CENTER OF GRAVITY LOW to reduce the chance of falling overboard or capsizing. Falling overboard or capsizing are the most common fatal boating accidents. |
| TAKE A WATER SAFETY or boating course. (Minnesota requires a water safety course before children ages 12-17 receive a boating permit.) An astonishing 84% or boating fatalities occurred on boats where operators had not completed a boating safety course. |
| TRAIN YOUR GUESTS AND FAMILY to drive boats. According to Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in 1996, 36% or all boating accidents occurred while the boat was being borrowed. Borrowed boats accounted for 16% of all fatalities and 43% of all injuries; 54% of the personal watercraft involved in accidents were borrowed. If you share a boat C SHARE THE KNOWLEDGE! |
| DON'T DRINK WHILE BOATING! According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, 31% of all boating fatalities involve alcohol. |
| PAY ATTENTION! Nearly 70% of all boating accidents involve operator-controlled factors. Recklessness, inattention, inexperience, and unsafe speed can result in a serious accident. |
| Know Your Lake! Know Your Buoys! Hidden rocks, shallow spots, and underwater items can cause serious damage to the boat . . . or the riders. The low level of the lake makes this even more important. Where there are buoys in the area, keep your speed down, or plan to get a new propeller. |
| Watch the Weather! Getting caught in a storm is scary and can be very dangerous. |
ON THE SHORE . . . .
While boating accidents make up a large share of water-related injuries and deaths, many accidents also happen on shore. In 2001, there were 17 boating deaths and 53 non-boating water-related deaths. Therefore:
| MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN CAN SWIM! Enroll them in a program through your local YMCA, the American Red Cross, or other community swimming program. Watch them carefully when near the water and use a buddy system when there are several children swimming at once. |
| NEVER DIVE INTO THE LAKE unless you are absolutely sure that it is clear of obstructions and is deep enough. |
| SWIM TOYS ARE NOT THE SAME as Personal Flotation Devices. When in doubt, use a PFD. |
| FOLLOW THE AMERICAN RED CROSS SUGGESTION: Watch out for the "dangerous toos": too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun and too much strenuous activity. |
| WEAR SUN BLOCK AND SUNGLASSES! Not all of the danger around water is wet. Skin cancer is becoming increasingly common. |
| TAKE A CPR CLASS. We hope you will never need it, but wouldn't you rather have something that you don't need than need something that you don't have? |
