Boating season is here, this blog reminds us of the dangers and precautions to take, people falling out of boats is common

  I originally posted this blog February 17, 2017, I am posting it again with revisions due to it remaining relevant. Yesterday in the local newspaper an article stated that a boat was found adrift in the middle of the river, (almost a mile wide) with the engine running. It was a speedboat, the style of an "offshore racer", they are fast, small, and if you can handle the loud engine they are fun. The man and woman who were in the boat were picked out of the water, with their lifevest, they are safe. 

  A few years ago a boat was found up against a dock in San Francisco's Fishermans Wharf, no one was on board. The owner was found, he was a middle age man well seasoned in a big boat, this one was a 40 footer. The story is the man left the steerage and went to the aft of the boat, rigging some lines when he accidentally fell overboard, his boat continued on its way. He fell out of the boat just west of the Carquinez Straits, about 25 miles from where the boat was found. He was also picked out of the water, with his lifevest, he was cold but safe.

There is a great deal of safety equipment needed on a boat, make sure
it is in top condition prior to setting off the dock.

  Some boats, jet skis for sure, have a lanyard a person places around the waist and it is connected to a trip switch leading to the engine, it shuts the motor down. Criticism of the people involved has no place, these are accidents for sure, they could have done a few things differently, however at the time apparently they felt their actions were safe. There is an 8-hour boating course presented by Boat U.S. insurance company. It's a good lesson, I learned a number of things I did not know prior to taking it, I suggest everyone who is a boater take it, it is free.
  It is time for us to get ready for the summer months, last Saturday was "Opening Day" on the California Delta, it's a mini fourth of July, Bar-B-Ques, games, and a boat parade. It is one of three celebrations of which two are unique to our island, our yearly town "fair" is called the "50"s bash", and on New Years morning the "Frozen Bun Run" takes place. This blog will take another look at boating, and highlights a few precautions we should all consider. A reminder for the first few outings at least to review our safety procedures, our boats, life vests, and the safety equipment stored on our boats. On the water, a faulty piece of gear could mean the difference between life and death, "Good Enough" for this one outing just does not cut it. We need to utilize all of our self-reliance, self-awareness, and self-responsibility skills from the onset starting a few days ahead of our first boating adventure.
   Because of the amount of rain, the level of the river is high, igniting the caution light in the minds of most of the people who live on the river. There was a big boat that passed. I watched her and saw she made an evasive move about 1/4 mile away. I wondered what kind of stuff she was avoiding. I could not see it until it was about 1/8 mile from me. It was a huge flotsam made of Tules (they are a lot like cattails, without the tails) wood and dock parts. This obstacle is not really a bad situation, it can be seen.
   It is extremely important to wear a proper life vest, especially in high tides and high runoff from the mountains. Many times submerged logs will be one or two feet under the water surface, just lumbering along in the current. If a large piece of flotsam is accidentally struck by the boat, a disaster could result. The boat doesn't have to be going fast. The out-drive in our boat was destroyed by a submerged something, at less than 5 miles per hour. I was told by a friend, he had hit a 2x4 about 18 inches long, it knocked a hole in the hull of his bass boat. He was able to make it to a dock where it was lifted up on a boat hoist.
That was luck. He had a life vest on, happily, he did not need it.

   I was told another story by a friend that would transport big boats for people. On this particular day, he had his 12-year-old daughter with him. Everyone on board was wearing life preservers. The big wooden boat caught on fire. It was 40 feet long or more. His young daughter ran to the front berth. From fear, he could not get her to jump into the water to escape. They were a scary distance from shore, in the main river channel, in a boat on fire soon to sink. His little girl would not jump. He tossed her in and followed her. By that time boats on the river were headed toward them to assist. The article in the paper the next day stated, "luckily, no injuries." This happened in the same spot as the two people in the offshore boat fell overboard.
   Boating season is starting. The salmon will be here soon. Jet ski's, canoes, stand up boards, and boats of every size, style and make will be out. If you have the opportunity to be on the water, be sure to wear your life vest, attach a whistle to it and a small flashlight as well. In the event a person is stranded on the river (it happens all the time), it is a survival situation. Even during the summer, it needs to be taken extremely seriously. In August on the river, 100 degrees during the day may easily go to 60 degrees at night.  Hypothermia, many people experience it, many people die of it. Finding people usually starts with a damaged boat or jet ski, then the search starts. The results may not be good and often are not. It is prudent to keep on board any size of boat warm clothing protected in a waterproof bag, actually a "survival kit". I recommend placing a flashlight, matches, warm clothing (sweatpants and shirt), and tennis shoes. That bag will float, it will act as a floatation device if abandoning the boat is in order.
   So in conclusion, let's all make sure that we inspect our emergency equipment on the boat, the life-saving vest that we wear, as well as the condition of the boat. Make it a point to check the required safety gear the day before the event is planned. "Oh this will be OK for the short time we will be out." Won't answer because unfortunately we really never know for sure "How long we will be out."

   Please comment, there are many stories on the rivers. We love to hear them, they are part of what makes us "River People." Be safe and go with your eyes and ears wide open.

jacquesandkate
emergencykitsplus.com