Lake Erie Islands Mid-Season Safe Boating Tips
Extreme Heat Tips for safe boating We have had a string of very hot days over the last few weeks around Put-in-Bay. Here are some tips to stay as cool and healthy as possible while on your boat. Fatigue can be one of the most common causes of boating accidents.
1) Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Particularly under extreme heat conditions which you should do so prophylactically in other words, don’t wait until you are dying of thirst before you drink.
2) Wear light and light-colored clothing. Black and dark colors will make you very hot very fast. As a personal cooling preference, I usually wear white or khaki shorts and a tank top with a white or khaki breathable knit ball cap with an extra long bill. People often overlook the importance of protecting their heads from direct extreme sunlight. If you don’t have a bimini roof or such to protect you from hours of direct sun exposure, consider wearing a buff. You’ll look a bit like a bandit, but that’s the trade-off, and is safe boating!
3) limit your time on the water to the coolest parts of the day. Heat Exhaustion VS. Heat Stroke (Know the difference and know the symptoms) Heat exhaustion is the precursor to heatstroke and is a direct result of the body overheating. Symptoms include heavy sweating, rapid pulse, dizziness, fatigue, cool, moist skin with goose bumps, muscle cramps, nausea, and headaches.
If heat exhaustion is suspected, remove the person from the heat by getting out of the sun and loosening tight clothes, misting the body with water, or placing ice packs in the armpits and groin. Rehydrate the person with plenty of water and avoid beverages that contain alcohol, caffeine, or high amounts of sugar.
If heat exhaustion is not addressed, heatstroke could follow and lead to death without emergency treatment. Heatstroke results when your body temperature rises to 104 degrees or higher. At this temperature, your brain, heart, kidneys, and muscles can become damaged, leading to severe complications or death. If you suspect heatstroke, seek medical attention immediately.
Please Be Advised Last month, there were three re-occurring violations that we encountered while on patrol in our part of the Western Basin. Wake violations: Boating into Put-in-Bay harbor (and others), countless boaters violated the “No Wake Zones.” Be sure to learn what idle speed means. As a rule of thumb, if you look over your transom and you see white water, you are probably going to fast. Remember that you are legally and financially responsible for any damage caused by your wake to other boats and facilities. Make no mistake; it is enforceable! Your wake, if not properly cared for, can easily swamp a smaller boat and cause a serious, even deadly accident
Boaters riding on the gunwales and/or on top of the bow. WOW, is that dangerous and a boating safety NO, NO…and illegal. If you hit a sudden hard wake or wave, bodies could fly and maybe into a prop. Ensure all your passengers are safely inside the vessel while underway. Kayakers without life vests on board. While kayakers aren’t required to wear their life vests while underway, they must have them on board. I would ask you to consider this.
Unless you are a fantastic swimmer and in your prime, your ability to recover from a sudden and catastrophic event such as a flipped-over kayak may be limited. The life vest you have stowed on board will be useless. Please consider safe boating by wearing your life vest while kayaking. I am now on the island through October and can inspect your vessel. You can reach me at 419-379-9000. FREE VESSEL SAFETY CHECK
Now is the time for island residents to schedule a free vessel safety check administered by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Call Today at 419-379- 9000. We can inspect your boat at the Put-in-Bay Boat Docks or your marina.
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