With Spring here, it's almost time to take your boat out on the open water and enjoy the rising temperatures and the waterside breeze. If you have young children, you're probably hoping to be able to take them out on the boat so that they too can enjoy an exciting open water experience. To prepare for this process, you can now begin to teach your children about the importance of boat safety. In this post, we'll present five tips for teaching children boat safety this spring.
1. BEGIN EACH TRIP WITH A SAFETY BRIEFING
When taking your children out on the water, it's imperative to begin each voyage with information on boat safety. As part of this process, you can remind children where they can find life jackets, flashlights and other safety equipment. You can also remind them of the rules for safety when on the board.
2. TEACH CHILDREN ABOUT LIFE JACKET SAFETY
The life jackets are critical safety equipment on your boat, and your children should be taught how to use life jackets safely. Remember; children have growing bodies and so the life jacket that fit them last year might not be suitable for them this year. Ensure they try on the jacket while on the shore to see if it fits them properly.
3. MAKE SURE THEY CAN SWIM
Swimming is an important part of boat safety. Go out with your children on the open water and ensure they know how to swim over a short distance. Then teach them to float using the devices available on your boat. You can teach them the value of their life jacket by having them get used to the feeling of wearing it in the water. This will help ensure they're ready to use it in case a problem takes place on the boat.
4. PACK SUNSCREEN
Before you set out for the day on your inaugural voyage with your children, remember to pack sunscreen for the trip. Make sure your children have used the optimal amount of sunscreen for the day and teach them the importance of using it on a regular basis as protection from the sun's rays. While this step may not be directly related to boat and water safety, it's still a critical step in overall boat safety for kids.
5. SHOW THEM HOW TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE BOAT
While you might be carrying your children from the land onto the boat at this stage, it's still important that children learn how to take the step themselves. Show them how you can use the boat for leverage and explain how you are using your body to safely make your way inside. By carefully explaining all elements of boat safety, you can teach your children to respect the water while safely enjoying each voyage.
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