Boating Safety Tips

Louisiana boaters can take free boating safety course at home

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is now offering a new online boating safety course provided by the BoatUS Foundation. The course can be found at www.BoatUS.org or www.wlf.louisiana.gov/boating/courses.

The new online course is approved by LDWF and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and allows Louisiana boaters to get their safe boating certification at no cost in the comfort of their own home.

"The department wants to provide as many opportunities as possible for people to get their boating safety certification," said Lt. Col. Jeff Mayne, the state's boating law administrator.  "Since the course is free and people can take it at home, we want to encourage everybody to give it a try even those that don't need their certification.  This free online course will teach new boaters how to become safer on the water and old boaters some new tips."

Louisiana boaters born after Jan. 1, 1984 must complete a NASBLA approved boating education course and carry proof of completion to operate a motorboat in excess of 10 horsepower.  LDWF initiated the state's boating education program in 2003 and has certified over 40,000 boaters during that time.

Studies have shown that states with a mandatory boating education program have fewer boating incidents that result in fatalities than states that have no boating education program.  States with a boating education program for more than 20 years had 3.67 fatalities per 100,000 registered boats, and states with no boating education program had 6.61 fatalities per 100,000 boats.

With the free online course, those looking to get certified now have three options to choose from: the traditional classroom course taught in one day, the free online course from BoatUS.org and an online course for a small fee from boat-ed.com.

The free online course and exam is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as exceeding the minimum requirements for the National Recreational Boating Safety Program.

“We’ve loaded the course with interactive animations, videos and photos to give boaters, sailors and anglers an education that goes well beyond the basics of boating,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Boating Safety Chris Edmonston. “It includes videos that demonstrate important safety devices such as visual distress signals, how to get help in an emergency, how to prevent and extinguish fires aboard your boat, and the best way to fit a life jacket to a child so they will not slip out.

Boating Safety Tips / Preventing Boating Accidents | Tips Buddy

Boating safety ideas are the most crucial factor to keep in mind and ought to not be overlooked . Accidents are not a rare thing  , but several are preventable . Here are some tips to maintain your next boating trip as safe as feasible.

One of the most essential issues you can do when boating is steer clear of alcohol. Several folks select to drink while operating a boat, but the impairment in judgment and the delayed reaction time in the event of an accident make this a really poor idea. Much more than a third of boating deaths involve alcohol. Similarly, you need to drive responsibly and not attempt to show off or fool about when driving a boat.

Of course you ought to be wearing a life jacket at all times, which is one more boating safety tip some people select to ignore. A life jacket can make the distinction between life and death if you ever find your self unintentionally in the water. Waiting until the boat has hit some thing or flipped over is too late for a life jacket. Life jackets are specially critical for young children, even ones who can swim nicely.

Never go out in bad or questionable weather. Have a radio with you that can alert you to an incoming storm. Pay attention to the elements the wind, water and sky to give you clues that bad weather is approaching. If a storm is coming or it even appears like it could be on its way, head back to shore. You don’t want to be stuck in the middle of the ocean in poor weather.

You ought to also be able to operate a boat. Make sure that you have your boating license and that you are up to date and comfy with boating operations. You should be knowledgeable about straightforward, but crucial boating rules such as correct of way and speed in various realms of the ocean.

Check your boat every single time you’re going to head out to make sure it’s in sound condition and does not want any repairs. Make certain you have a fire extinguisher and that it’s Coast Guard approved. Check your lights to be particular they work. Keep backup supplies as well as a 1st aid kit on board and quickly accessible.

One far more factor just prior to we finish is vinyl boat lettering. Boat lettering is some thing that you should be interested in since you can buy this in reflective vinyl so other boats that are out on the water can see you with out a difficulty. The vinyl boat lettering does not have to say anything but of course if you wanted to name your boat, vinyl lettering is the very best way to get that accomplished. Also you can just have a easy reflective strip that runs along side the boat or whatever you would select.

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