November is Child Safety Protection Month! Remember these tips the next time you head out on a family adventure:
- Expect the unexpected. Pack a change of clothes, extra snacks and water; and don’t forget sunscreen, warm layers, and hats.
- Clear expectations. Establish rules up front, and always practice safe boating habits on board. Set the example for the next generation of safe boaters.
- Be vigilant. Always keep eyes on children. Have a responsible adult, besides the boat operator, assigned to watch the children.
- File a float plan. Always let someone on shore know your trip itinerary including operator and passenger information, boat type and registration, and communication equipment on board before you leave the dock.
- Wear a life jacket. Make sure you and your children wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket every time you are near the dock and on a boat. An adult life jacket does not work for children. Learn about choosing the right life jacket.
- Use an engine cut-off switch – it’s the law. An engine cut-off switch is a proven lifesaving device to stop a powerboat engine should the operator unexpectedly fall overboard.
- Check equipment. Schedule a free vessel safety check with local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons to make sure all essential equipment is present, working, and in good condition.
- Watch the weather. Always check the forecast before departing on the water and frequently during your excursion.
- Know what’s going on around you at all times. Operator inattention and improper lookout were the top two primary contributing factors in boating incidents in 2024.
- Know where you’re going and travel at safe speeds. Be familiar with the area, local boating speed zones, and always travel at a safe speed. Visit BoatOnCourse.com before heading out on your next adventure for short, free, easy-to-understand instructional videos.
- Never boat under the influence. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents. Where the primary cause was known, alcohol was listed as the leading factor in 20% of deaths in 2024. We can be a part of actively lowering (or eradicating) this statistic by never boating under the influence of alcohol.
- Be aware of carbon monoxide. Know when and where carbon monoxide may accumulate around your boat. Learn more.
- Keep in touch. Have more than one communication device that works when wet. VHF radios, emergency locator beacons, satellite phones, and cell phones with GPS technology can all be important devices in an emergency.
The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The campaign offers a variety of free and paid resources to support local boating safety education efforts. Learn more at www.safeboatingcampaign.com.