Staying safe on the water

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With the first long weekend of the summer upon us boaters are being reminded to be safe when out on the water and to follow proper boating practices, including wearing life jackets.

Fort Erie’s fire department has already responded to 9 calls of boaters in distress this year and with summer weather finally rolling in they except to be busy. They have two boats, one services the Crystal Beach area while the other monitors the Niagara river. There are about 15 trained volunteer fire fighters who respond to water rescues year round. Many of the calls they say could be avoidable.

Lake Erie’s depth can range from 2 feet to about a 100 feet. The drastic changes in depth can be within a 10 metre radius. Fire officials say boaters should be familiar with the geography of the water. But before you hit the water the fire department recommends boaters fill out a sailing plan, which lists the vessels colour and registration number. There also must be one life jacket for every person on board but boaters aren’t legally compelled to wear them.

Fire officials recommend the 1-10-1 rule if you have fallen overboard. You have one minute to control you breathing. Another 10 minutes to get to a safe place because you will start to lose feeling in your arms and legs and about an hour before hypothermia begins to set in.

The department says it can be out on the water in just three minutes from the time they get a call but they hope boaters will respect the water.