Marine Safety Category Page
When the warmer months arrive, more and more of us are getting out on the water. Whether you’re gong for a quick wade in your local creek or a multi-day rafting expedition, it’s important to be prepared for marine emergencies.
To stay safe, take a basic CPR or water rescue course, and pick up the specific marine safety equipment that is best for your outdoor water adventures right here.
Illuminate your search zone with marine lights
Night fishing and cruising is a lot of fun, but if someone falls overboard, you may be unable to see them, even if they’re wearing a bightly colored PFD. Powerful, waterproof marine lights should be kept in all boaters’ safety kits.
If a victim is wearing gear with reflective material, lights will illuminate their exact location. Conversely, individuals may wish to carry small waterproof ‘marker lights’ which stay on even underwater.
When someone falls overboard, choppu waves can make it difficult to rescue them. Keep specialized floatable plastic throw ropes on the hand for these types of emergencies. Whitewater-specific “throw bags” are smaller and intended to be quickly accessible in the middle of rough rapids.
On larger craft where passengers may not be wearing life jackets, invest in a larger throw rope that is attached to some sort of floatation device on one end. It’s always a good idea to fine tune your throw rope technique on dry land before an emergency. Set up a “target” on your lawn and practice hitting it with your new throw line.
Alert rescuer and victims with signaling and whistles
It can be difficult to hear and communicate over the noise of crashing waves and river rapids, and all boaters should carry some sort of whistle or other noise-signaling device, both to get victims’ attention and to alert all boaters that there is someone in the water.
There are universal whistle commands for marine safety. A short blast means “attention!” while three short blasts means that there is someone overboard.
Protect your dome with whitewater helmets
Helmets are absolutely essential for whitewater rafting. Not only will a whitewater helmet protect you if you fall out of the raft into a rocky rapid, but it will protect you from errant paddles and tumbling people even when you stay in the boat when things get really rowdy.