Recreational boating accidents are the second leading cause of transportation-related fatalities after automobile accidents. Each year, approximately 800 people die in recreation boating accidents.
The Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons along with state and local agencies are committed to ensuring the continued safe use and enjoyment of our waters. With the approach of winter the cold waters of the Great Lakes can become deadly if not treated with respect.
The following are seven steps for safe boating in cold weather:
1. Wear an Exposure Suit (Personal Flotation Devices, PFDs) - Drowning is the leading cause of death in boating accidents, but in cold water a regular lifejacket is not enough to save you. You need to be wearing exposure suit if you want to survive falling overboard in cold water.
2. Don’t drink and boat – Alcohol contributes to more than 50% of boating accidents and 22% of boating fatalities.
3. Check the weather – Check TV, radio and /or webpage weather reports or call the National Weather Service. Weather information is available on marine band radios. Be aware of changes in the sky, wind and water. Head to shore when weather starts to turn bad.
4. File a float plan – Before you go out leave information about your trip with a family member or friend who is staying on shore. Include all information that would help rescuers in case of an emergency; how many people on board, where you are going, how long you will be out and a description of your boat. Do not file float plans with the Coast Guard.
5. Have a portable waterproof marine band radio – The Coast Guard, other rescue agencies and other boaters monitor marine band radios the increases the number of people who can respond. The radios are better than cellular phones because their signals can be of assistance locating a person in distress.
6. Equip your boat with a Electronic Positioning Radio Beacon (EPRB) – An EPRB is a safety device that automatically transmits an emergency signal when it is placed or floating in the up right position. The signal allows the Coast Guard and other rescue agencies to pin point your location.
7. Take a boating safety course – Approximately 90% of boating deaths occur on boats where the operator had no formal boating safety instruction. The Coast Guard recommends that all boaters take a safety class and refresher every five years.
Boating Safety Course Phone: 1-800-336-2628.
Boating Safety Hotline: 1-800336-2628.
Boat smart from the start!
Some Cold Water Information
The table below represents the average survival time for a person in cold water.
Water Temperature Average Survival Time
59-51 degrees 3-5 hours
50-42 degrees 1-2 hours
41-33 degrees 1 hour
32-0 degrees 15 min.
The Three “E’s” of Boating Safety;
Education, Equipment and Enforcement
Education
· An educated boater is the best defense against maritime danger. As skipper of your vessel, you are responsible for the safety of those on and around your boat. Education is a small investment with a big return. It is the first step in ensuring a safe and fun boating season.
· Public Boater Education courses are offered at a variety of locations throughout the Great Lakes region. These courses may last anywhere from eight hours to 11 weeks. Courses are taught by members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons and state and local boating enforcement agencies. Generally, the only cost associated with a course is a materials fee.
Equipment
The Coast Guard sets minimum safety standards for vessels and equipment. To meet these standards some of the equipment must be Coast Guard approved. “Coast Guard Approved Equipment” has been determined to be in compliance with USCG specifications and regulations relating to performance, construction or materials.
The basic pieces of boating safety equipment are:
· Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
· Marine Band Radio
· Visual Distress Signals
· Fire Extinguishers
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) – PFDs must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, meaning you must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (boat sinking, on fire, etc.). They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. Throwable devices must be immediately available for use. Though not required, a PFD should be worn at all times when the boat is underway.
Visual Distress Signals – To assist rescuers in finding and aiding boaters in distress, the Coast Guard requires all boats operating in U.S. coastal waters to carry approved visual distress signals.
The following vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.
· Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
· Boats participating in organized events such as races, regattas, or marine parades.
· Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length not equipped with propulsion machinery.
· Manually propelled boats.
Pyrotechnic Devices – Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible. If selected as visual distress signals for your boat a minimum of three are required. That is, three signals for day use and three signals for night. Some pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use requirements.
Pyrotechnic devices should be stored in a cool, dry location. A watertight container painted red or orange and prominently marked “Distress Signals” is recommended.
Coast Guard approved pyrotechnic visual distress signals and associated devices include:
· Pyrotechnic red flares, hand-held or aerial.
· Pyrotechnic orange smoke, hand-held or floating.
· Launchers for aerial red meters or parachute flares.
Non-Pyrotechnic Devices – Non pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and Coast Guard approved. They include:
· 3x3 distress flag, for day use only, with a black square and ball on an orange background.
· Electric distress light, for night use only, must automatically flash the international SOS distress signal.
It is prohibited to display visual distress signals on the water under any circumstances except when assistance is required to prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a vessel.
Fire Extinguishers – Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers are required on certain boats. Extinguishers are classified by a letter and number symbol. The letter indicates the type fire the unit is designed to extinguish (Type B for example are designed to extinguish flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease fires). The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher (minimum extinguishing agent weight).
Your boat extinguisher must be hand portable, either B-I or B-II classification and have a specific marine type-mounting bracket. It is recommended the extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible position.
Motorboats are required to carry fire extinguishers if any one or more of the following conditions exist:
· Inboard engines.
· Closed compartments and compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored.
· Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation materials.
· Closed living spaces
· Closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored.
· Permanently installed fuel tanks. Fuel tanks secured so they cannot be moved in case of fire or other emergency are considered permanently installed. There are no gallon capacity limits to determine if a fuel tank is portable. If the weight of a fuel tank is such that persons on board cannot move it, the Coast Guard considers it permanently installed.
Inspect extinguishers monthly to make sure that:
· Seals & tamper indicators read in the operable range. (Note: CO2 extinguishers do not have gauges.)
· There is no obvious physical damage, corrosion, leakage or clogged nozzle.
Enforcement
It is the Coast Guard’s job to increase safety on the waterways through the enforcement of federal safety laws and regulations. Our enforcement is accomplished by three basic methods;
1. Patrols of coastal waterways,
2. At-sea safety boarding,
3. Dockside safety boarding.
The Coast Guard works with other federal, state, local and Canadian agencies improve and enforce safety on the Great Lakes
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