There are thousands of boating accidents every single year. While you may think you’re a pretty safe boater, there’s no telling what can happen out on the water.
Rather than wait for an emergency to arise, take the time to figure out what to do after a boating accident while you’re still on dry land. So, if you do find yourself in a dangerous situation, you won’t waste any precious time trying to figure out what you need to do.
Are you ready to get learning? Here is a comprehensive step-by-step guide on what to do if you’re ever in a boating accident.
1. Assess the Situation
There is no single right way to respond to an emergency when you’re on the water. The proper response depends entirely on the type of boating emergency you’re experiencing. So, before you do anything, take a few moments to calm down and thoroughly assess the situation.
Check to make sure all of your passengers and anyone else involved in the accident is ok. Then try to figure out what happened and check for severe damage to any vessels involved. Once you have a clearer picture of the situation, you can figure out your next steps and begin to move forward.
2. Call for Help
If you assess the situation and discover severe injuries to a passenger or potentially dangerous damage to a vessel, it’s time to call for help.
Whether you have a radio built into your boat or rely on your cellphone before you hit the water, you should take the time to figure out how to get in touch with the proper authorities should you run into an issue.
Make sure all of your passengers know where your emergency kit is before you embark, and keep laminated or otherwise waterproof instructions on how to contact the proper authorities should the need arise.
3. Disembark
Finally, if your boat is sinking, catches fire, or becomes in some other way too dangerous to stay on, you’ll need to disembark.
Start by making sure all of your passengers are outfitted with a life vest and grab your boating emergency kit, which should include a flair and maybe even an inflatable liferaft you can use to stay afloat until the authorities arrive.
Remember if you need to disembark due to a boating emergency, try to scan the water ahead of time to find a safe place clear of debris and other hazardous material, and, if you don’t have a liferaft, try to stay together.
Want to learn a little bit more about how to stay safe on the water? Check out freedomboatclub.com for more information.
How to Handle Boating Accidents
There is no such thing as being too prepared! Now that you know how to handle a boating accident, you’ll be able to better protect yourself and your family next time you’re on the water.
Are you looking for more tips on how to stay safe at sea? We’ve got you covered! Check out the rest of our blog for more helpful articles and advice today!