| No matter what size your boat or watercraft - | | | | of a fire breaking out, you should remain calm at |
| even before you think about raising the anchor, | | | | all times. Act quickly to put the fire out using the |
| hoisting a sail or casting-off, you must ensure you | | | | appropriate extinguisher if it is safe to do so, and |
| have everything you need for safe cruising and | | | | direct your crew in such away as not to put |
| sailing for yourself and your crew, in your boat. | | | | them in additional danger. If the fire cannot be |
| Here's a list of 9 boating safety tips that may | | | | controlled, then you boat must be considered a |
| save your life and reduce damage to your vessel | | | | potentially lethal hazard. You should attempt to |
| on even the shortest boating excursion. | | | | abandon ship as quickly and as safely as possible, |
| 1. Life Jackets or Personal Buoyancy Equipment - | | | | as well as alerting other vessels nearby of the |
| Inflatable lifejackets and are designed to support | | | | hazard. If the fire is successfully doused, then it is |
| your head in the water. However, lifejackets can | | | | likely that the boat will have sustained serious |
| be cumbersome, and for this reason many sailors | | | | damage, and you should bear immediately to the |
| prefer to wear buoyancy aids | | | | nearest port or shore. |
| 2. Suitable Marine Clothing - bear in mind the | | | | 7. Hull Damage - Water leaks on a boat usually |
| conditions you will be travelling in when considering | | | | occur due to some form of collision, either due to |
| what to wear, and what you will be doing on your | | | | the hull hitting hidden rocks, ice or coral in shallow |
| boat. For example if you expect yoyur boat to | | | | water. Sometimes it may even be due to a |
| capsize a lot, wear a dry or wet suit instead of | | | | collision with another boat. Leaks can also occur |
| sailing clothes. | | | | slowly over a period of time from wear and tear |
| 3. Life Raft - A life raft should be included in your | | | | on the boat's hull, although, if you maintain your |
| boat safety equipment in case you need to | | | | craft properly, this shouldn't be a regular |
| abandon ship. Included with this should be flares, | | | | occurrence. If you are unlucky enough to |
| emergency food and a supply of fresh water. | | | | experience a leak, you should try to remain calm |
| 4. Sun Glasses and Skin Protection - Sun cream is | | | | and follow these instructions. Turn on any electric |
| essential if the weather is hot, and it's important | | | | pumps and get your boat crew to help bailing |
| to note that sunburn can occur just as easily if | | | | water out of the boat. |
| there is a stiff wind - it may make you feel | | | | Try to block the hole whilst this is being |
| cooler, but the sun's rays will still penetrate. As | | | | undertaken, using whatever you have to hand. |
| well as protecting your skin, sunglasses should be | | | | This may become more difficult if the hole is |
| worn to protect your eyes from harmful UV light | | | | deeper in the hull, due to the increased water |
| 5. First Aid Kit - When cruising in your boat over | | | | pressure. Soft items, such as bunk cushions, are |
| long distances, it's recommended that you or one | | | | effective because they can be forced into the |
| of your crew-members has experience and | | | | hole and then braced in position. Head for shore or |
| competence in administering first aid. More often | | | | a safe port as soon as youve plugged the hole, |
| than not, most injuries sustained whilst sailing will | | | | whilst getting the crew to keep up the bailing of |
| consist of a few bumps to the head and a little | | | | excess water out of the boat. Should you fail to |
| sunburn, but if anything more serious should | | | | successfully plug the leak, then you must prepare |
| happen, then it's useful to have the necessary | | | | to abandon ship. |
| first aid skills onboard amongst the boat's crew | | | | 8. Abandoning Your Boat - This should be an |
| before calling for assistance. | | | | action taken only in the most extreme of |
| 6. Fire Drill & Fire Extinguishers - One of the | | | | circumstances. You are not only much safer on |
| most important things any boat safety guide | | | | your boat, but also much more likely to be found |
| should tell you is to prepare for the unfortunate | | | | by rescuers. If you are however forced to take |
| outbreak of a fire. In the event of a fire breaking | | | | this action, then heed by these rules. Stay on or |
| out onboard, it's more than likely to have been | | | | as near to your boat for as long as possible. Send |
| caused by a cooking accident, a gas or fuel supply | | | | out a distress call, including your location, before |
| failure, or an electrical fault. Gas or fuel problems | | | | you leave your boat. If you are sailing inshore try |
| are potentially the most dangerous because they | | | | your mobile or cell phone to contact the |
| can easily cause explosions, so it's imperative to | | | | Coastguard. Ensure everybody is wearing a |
| maintain fuel sources in good condition. It's also | | | | lifejacket! Take as many essential extras as you |
| essential to carry and maintain the correct types | | | | can onto your life raft including food and flares. |
| of fire extinguisher onboard. Different | | | | Once you're on the life raft, don't leave it unless |
| extinguishers are required for different causes | | | | you absolutely have to. |
| and types of fire. Dry Powderfire extinguishers | | | | 9. Marine Insurance - If the worst comes to the |
| can be used on any sort of fire, which is useful if | | | | worst and you lose your boat or suffer personal |
| you do not know what the source is. Foam fire | | | | injury, the damage can be avoided and corrected |
| extinguishers are also very effective, however | | | | if you take out adequate boat insurance before |
| must not be used on electrical fires, as there as a | | | | you go sailing. You can also take out additional |
| risk of electric shock and potentially death. | | | | personal accident cover for amateur and |
| Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers are effective at | | | | professional sailors, which offers further |
| putting out engine and electrical fires. In the event | | | | protection of your boating lifestyle. |