| Here in New England, winter temps keep all but the | | | | hypothermia, and dehydration. Water cools your skin |
| hardiest of souls away from the beaches and lakes. | | | | even though it often amplifies the sun's effects, so |
| So when the thermometer begins to climb in early | | | | you sunburn quickly and don't notice it. Have |
| spring, we are understandably anxious to get our | | | | waterproof sunscreen? Don't believe it! You won't |
| gear into the water. | | | | get full protection from it for more than two hours |
| But wait, not so fast! Safety is or should be one of | | | | without reapplying. Water can also cool your body |
| the first considerations before your paddle ever hits | | | | too much if you are not alert, so if you're swimming |
| the water. Information can change from year to | | | | in water that felt cold when you went in, don't stay |
| year, and it's a good idea to have your annual review | | | | in too long. As for dehydration, again, you just don't |
| of water safety before you hit the sand and surf. | | | | notice how thirsty you are, but combine mild |
| Some of this you'll remember from when you were a | | | | dehydration with hot sunlight and it's easy to get |
| kid, but it still applies even if you're a Navy SEAL. | | | | heatstroke. |
| 1. Swim with a buddy. This is simple common sense. | | | | 8. Do not drink and swim, or drink and boat, or drink |
| You don't have to hold hands like in kindergarten, but | | | | and dive, or drink and do anything associated with |
| you should have one person close by at all times | | | | water outside of drinking it. Drunk people have |
| who knows exactly where you are supposed to be. | | | | accidents in the water. Perhaps half of all drownings |
| 2. Always be sure someone knows the general area | | | | involved liquor, and most boat accidents involve liquor. |
| you're swimming, boating, etc. in. Even if you're out | | | | A beer or two probably won't hurt if you're fishing |
| with a friend as you should be, it's always possible | | | | (provided you take some water out too so you don't |
| for something to happen to both of you. If you have | | | | get dehydrated) but you're best off limiting it to that. |
| a friend or loved one who knows where you're | | | | Personal watercraft, or jet skis, are one of the |
| supposed to be and when you're supposed to be | | | | fastest-growing water toys today. With a |
| back, then you know someone will raise the alarm if | | | | combination of relatively low cost and high |
| something were to happen. | | | | excitement, it's no wonder so many people want to |
| 3. Check with the Red Cross or YMCA to take some | | | | try them. And since they're new to so many people, |
| safety and CPR classes. Did it three years ago? Well, | | | | it's not surprising that many people don't know how |
| guess what - techniques have changed radically for | | | | to operate them safely. |
| both child lifesaving and adult lifesaving. Besides, | | | | At the very least, you should be 16 years old before |
| everyone could use a refresher on something they | | | | operating a jet ski, and some states require that you |
| (hopefully) don't have to do every day. | | | | have a boater safety education certificate as well. |
| 4. Make sure you understand your limitations, and | | | | Always wear a life jacket that has been approved |
| don't try to exceed them even if you're with a | | | | by the U.S. Coast Guard. And don't drive the jet ski in |
| stronger swimmer. Even if you have flotation devices | | | | a stupid manner. |
| and other things, play it safe if you're a weak | | | | These are all common sense, but there are some |
| swimmer. Stay close to shore, and don't push it even | | | | very specific things you should also adhere to. |
| if you feel fine. Remember, if you swim away from | | | | Because jet skis are speedy little things, you need |
| shore until you start feeling tired, you have to swim | | | | stopping space. Never drive more than 6 knots if |
| all the way back tired - and possibly against the | | | | you're within a hundred feet of anything else: people, |
| current. | | | | other jet skis, boats, shore, bridges, or even |
| 5. Always wear your safety gear. If you're riding jet | | | | waterfowl. Don't mess with waterfowl or any other |
| skis or riding watercraft in deep water, or even | | | | wildlife; if you get too close, you could hurt it or |
| water skiing, it's critical that you wear life preservers. | | | | yourself. |
| No matter how confident you are in your skills, don't | | | | In addition, make sure that your personal watercraft |
| take the chance. | | | | has a self-circling device or kill switch, so if you fall |
| 6. Stay in the safe areas, and be aware of dangers | | | | off you'll still have your transportation there. To avoid |
| like strong currents and riptides. And make sure you | | | | sudden stops when you run aground, never leave |
| dive only in places where it's safe to do so. On the | | | | your jet ski above idle speed if you're in water less |
| beach, pay attention to the flag warnings and the | | | | than 18 inches deep. Don't drive one when it's dark. |
| lifeguards. If you're on a beach without these things, | | | | And never, though people do it all the time, never |
| don't swim far out unless you know the area. As for | | | | jump the wake of vehicles if you're less than a |
| diving, never dive where you can't see all the way to | | | | hundred feet away from it. |
| the bottom, and always test to see how deep it is. | | | | Stop and think about safety this summer, make sure |
| Ideally, you should never dive unless it's marked safe | | | | you're as safe as possible, and you'll have much more |
| for diving. | | | | fun. |
| 7. The water can mask your perception of sunburn, | | | | |