Water Safety
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Water Safety
by Buck Conner 27/8/2021, 4:26 pm
Water Safety
DON'T MESS AROUND WHEN IN THE WATER
Most boating fatalities are the result of capsizing or falling overboard. 80% of drowning victims are not wearing floatation devices (life jackets).
Most fatalities occur in small, open boats during good weather, mid afternoon on summer weekends.
Most non-fatal boating accidents are the result of a collision with another boat or something in the water, rocks, pilings, debris.
Most boating accidents are sudden and unexpected. There's little if any time to reach for a life vest, which is why you should wear one all the time.
Reasons why alcohol and boating don't mix: alcohol affects a person's balance and coordination in a boat, impairs judgment, and makes it more difficult to swim if there's an accident. Many good swimmers have drowned because the alcohol they consumed distorted their ability to orient themselves, swimming down, instead of to the surface.
To a re-enacter this sounds like modern ideas and not fitting for doing correct period travel, true but like it on not its the law. I have traveled from Ft. Benton, MT to Ft. deChartre, IL on the Upper Missouri, Platte, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers, the State Fish & Game units, US Coast Guard and local law officials will be happy to ticket you, make you leave the water or whatever it takes to make you comply with the law. Get tough and they can start taking your equipment, fines and jail time.
The best plan is to be aware of the water laws, check with your local agents, as well as the US Coast Guard, they have the final word on most water ways.
If the law says we need life vests, fine, there are "Safety Approved" ones that are very thin and can be covered in pillow ticking (leave the bottom of the cover open for inspection). Believe it or not when covered they look like an old pillow ticking vest or whatever its covered with, may be not to our liking but your still on the water and experiencing the trip that you have planned.
We usually leave the vest open, if being viewed from a distance they look to be in order, if approached they can be tied.
You are less likely to have problems if you do go into the water, its better to be afloat as you'll be busy retreating loose equipage and bring your craft into shore, uprighting etc.
Remember its better to be safe and wet, everyone and everything gotten out of the water, on shore and then regrouped. If chilled, build a fire and dry your members and equipment out, have something hot to drink. Just remember your safe, think what it would have been like if someone didn't make it out !
_________________________________________________________
.
DON'T MESS AROUND WHEN IN THE WATER
Most boating fatalities are the result of capsizing or falling overboard. 80% of drowning victims are not wearing floatation devices (life jackets).
Most fatalities occur in small, open boats during good weather, mid afternoon on summer weekends.
Most non-fatal boating accidents are the result of a collision with another boat or something in the water, rocks, pilings, debris.
Most boating accidents are sudden and unexpected. There's little if any time to reach for a life vest, which is why you should wear one all the time.
Reasons why alcohol and boating don't mix: alcohol affects a person's balance and coordination in a boat, impairs judgment, and makes it more difficult to swim if there's an accident. Many good swimmers have drowned because the alcohol they consumed distorted their ability to orient themselves, swimming down, instead of to the surface.
To a re-enacter this sounds like modern ideas and not fitting for doing correct period travel, true but like it on not its the law. I have traveled from Ft. Benton, MT to Ft. deChartre, IL on the Upper Missouri, Platte, Missouri, and Mississippi Rivers, the State Fish & Game units, US Coast Guard and local law officials will be happy to ticket you, make you leave the water or whatever it takes to make you comply with the law. Get tough and they can start taking your equipment, fines and jail time.
The best plan is to be aware of the water laws, check with your local agents, as well as the US Coast Guard, they have the final word on most water ways.
If the law says we need life vests, fine, there are "Safety Approved" ones that are very thin and can be covered in pillow ticking (leave the bottom of the cover open for inspection). Believe it or not when covered they look like an old pillow ticking vest or whatever its covered with, may be not to our liking but your still on the water and experiencing the trip that you have planned.
We usually leave the vest open, if being viewed from a distance they look to be in order, if approached they can be tied.
You are less likely to have problems if you do go into the water, its better to be afloat as you'll be busy retreating loose equipage and bring your craft into shore, uprighting etc.
Remember its better to be safe and wet, everyone and everything gotten out of the water, on shore and then regrouped. If chilled, build a fire and dry your members and equipment out, have something hot to drink. Just remember your safe, think what it would have been like if someone didn't make it out !
_________________________________________________________
.
Buck Conner- Moderator
- Posts : 1049
Join date : 2021-07-02
Age : 84
Location : Utah, Colorado, Wyoming -
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