There are many safety-related factors that one must consider before traveling out to into any body of water aboard a boat. Although it may not seem so, boating can be a surprisingly dangerous activity if proper precautions are not exercised. From the most complicated and technical issues, to the most basic and common-sense, there are certain safety measures that always be implemented when sailing.
Boating dos and don’ts:
Although—particularly for those able to swim—it may seem an unnecessary step to take, one of the most important safeguards against boating disaster is the wearing of a lifejacket. Lifejackets provide their users with greatly increased safety against drowning in the case of an emergency, such as the sinking of a ship, or the falling overboard of a passenger. Life preservers, moreover, can be equally as effective.
Another important issue to consider when sailing is the weather. Travelling out to sea without a decent idea of what weather to expect can be extremely hazardous. Small sailing vessels can easily be completely capsized by strong enough gales. In a storm, it is also easy to be lost or displaced on a large body of water if the proper equipment is not available.
In addition, the consumption of alcohol while boating can impair boaters and severely compromise the safety of not only everyone on board the vessel, but those in nearby vessels as well.
Additional measures to be taken:
As another basic precaution, it may sometimes be advisable for those sailing in large bodies of water to carry with them beacons of some type with which to signal for help in case of emergency. Marine electronics and marine safety apps can be extremely helpful in this regard, affording their users immediate contact with the outside world, whenever needed.
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