I have been many tragic drownings last summer, and the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety has these seven DO NOT tips for boaters who want to swim:
DO NOT . . .
. . . permit anyone in the water until the engine is turned off and the key is out of the ignition.
. . . permit swimming until there is at least one life jacket or throwable flotation aid (tied to the boat) in the water, and every child is wearing a life jacket.
. . . swim at marinas. Electric current leaking from poorly maintained boat electrical and shore power systems can stun you and cause you to drown.
. . . dive in water headfirst unless you know exactly how deep the water is. Ease yourself down a boarding ladder to confirm the water depth.
. . . swim alone.
. . . swim under a boat's swim platform or near any boat with the engine running. You could die from a propeller strike or from carbon monoxide poisoning.
. . . swim in a navigation channel where you could be struck by a vessel or in an area with strong river or tidal currents, which can swiftly carry you away from the boat.
For more information on boating safety programs from the BoatU.S. Foundation, such as the free Kid's Life Jacket Loaner Program, go to their web site.
Source: BoatU.S. Foundation for Safety and Clean Water
DCAPT David G. Porter, Sector NY/S
1st Southern Region
646-523-1213