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Boating is a great way to spend a day, or weekend, or even a month but if you are unprepared for emergencies you're time spent on the water could become a nightmare. Carrying the proper safety items and emergency supplies onboard may seem unnecessary and bulky, but should anything happen you will be glad to have it. Complete boating safety means more than just bringing a few life jackets in case you have to swim. In order to be safe you need to carry the right safety supplies, make sure your boat is in working order, and you should understand the rules of boating in a public area. Here are some suggestions that will help you stay safe when boating.

General Boating Safety Precautions
In most public places of boating there are certain rules you have to follow. These rules include making sure you have the proper running and night time lights, a working horn, and in most places you need a working fire extinguisher on board. It also helps to make sure your boat is in proper working order, speaking mechanically. Make sure fluid levels are correct, the engine is running well, and the bilge pump is working correctly before leaving the dock. It is important to make sure the horn is in working order because it can help you alert other boaters of danger, or of your presence in fog or haze. For the same reason you should carry a working spotlight or beam light. When boating in bad visual conditions or at night a spotlight can help you see the way and alert other boaters of your presence.

Running lights should be positioned on the bow and stern, on both port side and starboard of the boat. Although not required in most states it is recommended to take a boaters safety course before heading out on the water, especially if you are new to boating and unsure of the rules of navigation. To find out information on where you can take a boaters safety course log onto the US Coast Guard website at http://www.uscg.mil. Other items you may find useful to keep onboard your boat would be a compass or global positioning device (GPS), a map of the area where you will be boating or traveling to, a hand bilge in case your onboard bilge stops working, emergency flares, and hand tools like wrenches and sockets for minor repairs.

Personal Flotation Devices and Life Boats
Most boaters know they should carry personal flotation devices (PFD's)/life jackets onboard. Not many boaters actually use them or make their passengers wear them which is where serious problems can occur. Every single person onboard your boat should have a proper fitting, US Coast Guard approved PFD. The United States Red Cross has a saying that goes “don't just pack it, wear your jacket”, and they are absolutely right. Whenever the boat is moving or accelerating all passengers and the captain of the boat should be wearing a life jacket. When the boat is anchored or docked keep the life jackets close at hand so passengers can quickly retrieve them in case of an emergency.

No matter what size your boat is you should also have some sort of life boat that is easily accessible. If you run aground, hit a rock or coral bed, or your boat starts taking on water and sinking you will need somewhere to go before your boat sinks. Generally speaking, not many boats actually sink but it can and does happen. You're better safe than sorry, especially if you have elderly people or small children onboard who may not be able to survive in water. A life boat could make the difference between life and death in case of an emergency. Any marine supply store should carry at least some sort of blow up boat. Before purchasing a blow up boat make sure it has a built in pump or pull cord for inflation. In an emergency you will not have time to figure out how to blow up a boat. Also make sure it has some kind of oars, that are attached should you have to row to safety.

Life Saving Devices and First Aid
If a passenger should fall overboard you will need either a floating device that you can throw out to them or something you can reach with. The general rule to follow in this situation is to throw something or reach out; never jump in the water to try to rescue a passenger that's fallen overboard. If you the operator of a boat and you are going to have passengers it would also be wise to take a first aid course. The Red Cross offers First Aid certification for a minimal fee and you can take the course just about anywhere. Fire departments, libraries, schools, hospitals, community centers, and local pools often offer these courses on a monthly basis through the Red Cross. To find out information on where these courses are offered log onto the Red Cross website at http://www.redcross.org.

When packing your boat make sure a first aid kit is part of your supplies in case of medical emergencies. A standard first aid kit is usually fine just make sure you have all the basic supplies like gauze or other wound dressing, medical tape, splints, antibiotic cream, alcohol pads or a bottle of peroxide, band aids, some sort of sugar (in case you have a diabetic onboard), aspirin/acetaminophen/ibuprofen, and clean water to wash wounds with.

Other Useful Supplies
In case of an emergency, especially in a bad case situation like being stranded it would be helpful to have some fresh water for drinking, blankets in case it is cold or a passenger needs to be warmed up, matches or a lighter (it's best to carry a lighter because matches don't work when they get wet), food rations in cans or waterproof containers, a flash light or spot light, and a cell phone in a waterproof case.

It may seem a bit unnecessary to carry all of these supplies onboard, especially for short trips but if anything goes amiss you will be glad to have the proper supplies at hand.

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