(MS) - When it comes to fun in the sun, few things can beat water sports. Veteran water sport athletes can attest to the enjoyment of activities such as surfing, water skiing and sailing.
But those same veterans can also attest to the dangers the sea can present if not careful. Before hitting the water this year, consider the following safety tips.
-Gear up. Regardless of whether you're out on the water for sports or simply to soak up some sun and relax, a life jacket that fits is an absolute necessity. Be sure to wear one that's snug, as a loose life jacket will not be as effective.
-Practice safety procedures. Especially before your first trip out of the season, go over safety procedures and where all supplies are with anyone going out on the boat. Even if it's a boat full of experienced sailors, procedures should be explained and reviewed at the start of each sailing season.
-Be your own weather person. Simply because you wake up and see sun outside of your window doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be a great day for sailing. Study the sailing report in your local newspaper or online before hitting the water, and be sure to know about any potential storms. Simply put, you want the weather to surprise you as little as possible when on the water, so no amount of knowledge is enough.
-Don't leave your boat. If your boat is on the water,
you should be on your boat. While it's tempting to jump off
and go for a swim, leaving the boat is opening yourself up to a
slew of potential problems.
Even in the case of a boat that's having engine troubles or
run out of gas, you should remain on the boat and simply radio
for help. People are very difficult to spot in the ocean or on
a lake. However, even a small boat is big enough to be noticed
by potential rescuers. Make sure you and all passengers remain
on the craft in the case of an accident or emergency.
-Stock the medicine cabinet. At the start of the season,
it's easy to forget that some people get sick at sea. When
sickness is out of sight, it's out of mind. However, nearly
every veteran sailor can tell a story of having to return to
shore because of a sick passenger.
No one likes having to do that, so be sure your boat's
medicine cabinet is well stocked with medicines for sea
sickness, headache, cuts or scrapes, and sunburn among other
things.
It's also good to bring along an ace bandage or two, as the
sometimes choppy waters can cause people to lose their balance
and sprain an ankle or bruise a knee. None of these things are
serious enough to return to shore if you have medicines, but
you can't expect someone to grin and bear a headache or
feelings of sea sickness for the good of everyone else.
