First Responders Remind Boaters to be Safe on the Water
By: Orange County Communications Department Photography Credit: Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company Holidays and summer months are approaching, and many Orange County residents will be making a splash at Lake of the Woods, Lake Orange, or Lake Anna. Our Emergency Communications Department fields several water - related 911 calls during each year ’ s boating season. To help ensure a fun and safe outing, our first responders want to make sure boaters are following all safety regulations and guidelines, and are prepared before they launch their watercraft.
Boating safety begins long before the water is in sight. In 2007, the Virginia General Assembly enacted a law to establish a boating safety education compliance requirement. Since 2016, all operators of personal watercraft (also known as PWCs, a term which includes vehicles such as jet skis) and motorboats with a motor of ten (10) horsepower or greater, have been required to have a boating safety education course completion card onboard during operation. There is no grandfathering with this requirement; all watercraft operators are now required to have completed a Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) approved Boater Safety Course. Boating safety courses help keep our waterways safer by ensuring that all operators have a foundational knowledge of boat operation, know the “ rules of the road, ” are prepared with proper safety equipment, and know where to find additional resources. Next, boaters should ensure their craft (and trailer, if applicable) is in good working order, and that registrations are up to date. They should perform a check to verify that all required equipment is present on their boat. Requirements vary by craft size, but example items include: a sound producing device (such as a whistle), visual distress signals (such as flares), lifejackets and throwable floatation devices, and fire extinguishers. The DWR has a complete list available online. A first aid kit should also be included. Once on the water, the responsibility to recreate safely increases. Much like driving a vehicle on the road, boat operators should not consume alcohol or other intoxicants. In fact, the effects of alcohol have been demonstrated to be even more impactful on the water. Just a few hours of exposure to the wind, sun, glare, motion, etc. from the water can cause a state of mental fatigue known as “ boater ’ s hypnosis. ” When compounded with actual drinking, these effects are even more dangerous. Additionally, there is strong evidence that alcohol reduces a person ’ s swimming capability, which can increase drowning risks. Chief Nathan Mort of Orange County ’ s Fire & EMS Department put it simply, “ Don ’ t drink and boat. ” Lake of the Woods Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company offered some additional boating safety advice for residents. These include: wearing a life jacket at all times in the event of a fall, preparing a float plan (including a boat description, a list of those onboard, a list of safety equipment, and the timing of the outing) and providing it to a friend or family member before you shove off, wearing sunscreen and being aware of heat - related illness, charging your devices before leaving, and having two (2) pieces of communication equipment onboard that will work even when wet (such as a VHF radio and emergency locator beacon). For additional information about boating safely, visit the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources website, the United States Coast Guard ’ s boating safety website, and the National Fire Prevention Association ’ s Marina & Boating Safety Tip Sheet.
Page 17 | May, 2022
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