Safety Afloat

Getting Afloat, whether it be rafting, rowing, sailing, power boating or canoeing is the real fun and adventure part of Sea Scouting. However, it can only remain an enjoyable activity if it is conducted safely. Always follow quickly the instructions of the person in charge of the craft. Your Leader will have a copy of the detailed rules and guidelines for Water Safety in general, and for the different Water Activities. You are not expected to know them all but you must appreciate the importance of the main points.

Safety Guidelines for Water Activities

Be able to swim. You should be able to swim in your normal Water activity gear, in the waters normally used by your Troop. Demonstrating swimming ability in heated indoor pool is not sufficient.

Wear the correct clothing. Dangerous or heavy clothing should not be worn – e.g. waders, heavy boots, etc. See the section on “Clothing to wear for Water Activities”. Avoid over loading a craft. Always make sure a boat is “trimmed” correctly;

The craft must be seaworthy. It must be seaworthy, in good condition and have a valid Boat Certificate.

Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid. Should be worn at all times in rafts, open boats or canoes. See the section on “Buoyancy Aids & Lifejackets”.

Get the weather forecast. Never go afloat unless you have the up-to-date forecast. Sea Scouts should normally not go afloat if the winds are above a force 4.

Observe good conduct. Do not “fool about” in a craft and always follow the instructions of the person in charge. Take the correct equipment. You should know the correct equipment that is required for the craft you are using and also the spares needed. This will depend on the type of craft and the activity. Always Be Prepared!

Know the local tides and currents. Always check the times of low and high tides. Avoid areas where the tidal streams are strong. Remember that conditions can change when the tide

Safety Afloat

Know the local dangers and hazards. Find out about the dangers like: - rocks, sandbanks, wrecks, shallows, weirs, locks, etc. Certain conditions of wind and tide particularly in shallow water can cause waves to break dangerously for a small boat and should be avoided. Remain alert at all times. On a water activity, always be aware of what is going on around you. In a sailing boat watch out for the boom swinging across the boat when tacking or gybing. Look out for the wake of a power boat. Charge certificates. Any person in charge of a boat must hold a charge cert. for the type of boat and the area of water in question.

HAVE FUN BUT STAY SAFE

A very useful check list to remember in relation to water safety is:-

“W A T C H I T”

W - Weather - get the latest weather forecast A - Area - plan the route and local knowledge T - Tides - look them up and note them C - Clothing - adequate, warm and waterproof H - Hazards - Places and situations to avoid and beware of

I - Inventory - check list of gear and spares T - Tell someone - route, times etc.