Safety information dling and lead to an accident, capsizing or swamping. boating in hazardous weather. EMU33800 Accident reporting Boat operators are required by law to file a Boating Accident Report with their state boating law enforcement agency if their boat is involved in any of the following accidents: 1. There is loss of life or probable loss of life. 2. There is personal injury that requires medical attention beyond first aid. 3. There is property damage to boats or other property over a certain amount. 4. There is complete loss of a boat. Contact local law enforcement personnel if a report is necessary. EMU33771 Avoid collisions Scan constantly for people, objects, and other boats.
Be alert for conditions that limit your visibility or block your vision of others. ZMU06025 EMU33870 Boat education and training Operators should take a boating safety course. This may be required in your state. Many of the organizations listed in the next section can provide information about cours- es in your area. You may also want to consider an Internet- based program for basic boater education. The Online Boating Safety Course provided by the BoatU.S. Foundation, is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recog- nized by the United States Coast Guard. Most, but not all, states accept this course to meet their minimum requirements.
While it cannot replace an in-depth course such as one offered by the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Power Squadron, or other organization, this online course does provide a general over- view of the basics in boating safety, require- ments, navigation, and operation. Upon successful completion of the course, the user can download a certificate of comple- tion immediately or, for a small charge, re- quest one by mail. To take this free course, Operate defensively at safe speeds and keep a safe distance away from people, ob- jects, and other boats. Do not follow directly behind other boats or waterskiers.
Avoid sharp turns or other maneuvers that make it hard for others to avoid you or un- derstand where you are going. Avoid areas with submerged objects or shallow water. Ride within your limits and avoid aggres- sive maneuvers to reduce the risk of loss of control, ejection, and collision. Take early action to avoid collisions. Re- member, boats do not have brakes , and stopping the engine or reducing throttle can reduce the ability to steer. If you are not sure that you can stop in time before hitting an obstacle, apply throttle and turn in another direction. EMU33790 Weather Stay informed about the weather. Check weather forecasts before boating. Avoid 3