Safety - Preventing Injuries on Boats

The people most likely to get injured on boats are male, aged between 15 and 49 years. The types of injury sustained are more severe than you might first think - injuries to the face and jaw (teeth), broken bones, severe head injuries and burns.

The most common cause of injuries on board a boat is people losing their balance and falling over, or people colliding with one another or a hard object.

What Can You Do?

As a Responsible Skipper

• Before setting out, brief your passengers about safety;
• Always apply throttle changes gently;
• Avoid excessive speed, especially when conditions are rough;
• Know the 'rules of the road' at sea so you can avoid collisions;
• Make sure you keep the boat well-balanced when you stow gear;
• Minimise the amount of alcohol you drink before or during a trip.

To make your vessel a safe one

• Ensure appropriate safety equipment is on board and is in working condition;
• Install hand rails;
• Stow things away properly - avoid clutter;
• On yachts - watch out for the boom;
• have everyone wear lifejackets; they help with floatation and provide protection form chest injuries in collisions and groundings.

As a passenger

• Maintain your balance - one hand for the boat, one hand for yourself;
• Go backwards down ladders;
• Sit down in rough weather;
• Don't go overboard with the booze;

Don't let your mates become a statistic this summer.