My family travels to Lake Tahoe at least once per summer. Every time, we take our family’s boat out on the lake for a day. Over the years, I have learned increasingly more about water safety and boat maintenance and will be expected to know exactly what to do to take care of the boat and passengers when I’m an adult. The biggest emphasis has been on the set of rules surrounding personal safety. I have always had to wear a lifejacket, and I need to know where all of the safety equipment is, such as the fire extinguisher, oars, and flares.
Additionally, I have been taught how to drive and what the “rules of the road” are for the water. For one, throwing up an orange flag when you have a swimmer in the water who may have just flown off of an inflatable being towed by the boat - something that has happened to me many times. Not everyone who is on a boat may know these rules, however, and it’s important for passengers to be aware of them.
I know that school starts soon and many families aren’t traveling as much right now, but I encourage anyone who has ever considered renting a boat to learn about personal water safety and boat safety on the U.S. Coast Guard website. For anyone interested, the link will be attached to this article. Have a nice rest of your summer, and always remember to be responsible around water.
Attached is the link to the Recreational Boaters page of the U.S.C.G. website. For those who are interested in taking boats out this summer. Here, you will find courses that will thoroughly educate you on boat safety. Even if you sail or drive boats fairly regularly, these courses may teach you things you didn’t know.