Boating With Your Kids
Boating is a fun and relaxing way to spend time with your family in nature. During the summer months especially, many families like to get out on the water and use their vacation time there. This often means taking the kids out to sail or cruise on your favorite body of water. However, children can present some unique challenges to your maritime fun.
We here at Rockingham Boat have put together a short list of tips for keeping your kids safe while you’re out on the water. If you have other questions or are looking for a boat to use these tips with, stop by our store in Hampstead, New Hampshire today.
Teach Them To Swim Early
The American Association of Pediatrics states that most children can start learning to swim as early as 1 year old. The early courses are most introductory for both you and your baby to help you both become comfortable in the water together. More formal swimming lessons begin around age 4.
The earlier your kids learn to swim, the more comfortable they’ll be in the water in general and the better they’ll be able to float should they ever fall overboard while you’re boating. Teach kids what to do in the water conditions they might be facing. For example, in riptides, they should swim parallel to the shore and perpendicular to the riptide until they’re free of it, then swim at an angle towards the shore. Always keep in mind what waterways you’ll be visiting when you’re educating your kids—ocean waters present different challenges than rivers.
Get Them Used To Life Jackets
It should go without saying that one of the most important things to boating safety is a life jacket. There are three features to look for when you’re selecting your life jackets: head floatation, a crotch strap, and a self-righting capability. Head floatation is self-explanatory, keeping your head above the water. Crotch straps make it harder to lose your life jacket. Self-righting capabilities help new swimmers stay rightside-up. Always test your life jackets in a safe, public swimming area like the shallow end of a pool, first.
Enforce the rule that life jackets are worn at all times. Make sure your children are as comfortable as possible in their life jackets to help make that rule easier to follow. Over time, wearing them will become second nature while they’re on the water. Also attach a marine whistle to every child’s life jacket and drill them to blow on it until help arrives, if something goes wrong.
Bring Supplies
Make sure your boat is properly equipped with all safety gear and other items to keep your kids and other passengers safe. Always have a fully-equipped first aid kit on board with essentials like waterproof bandages, disinfectant, and tweezers. Ensure you have a fire extinguisher that is securely fastened somewhere on the boat but is still accessible. Bring extra towels in a waterproof compartment or bag in case of unexpected splashes or rain.
It can also be wise to bring things to make the trip more comfortable and run as well as safe. A cooler with snacks and drinks, especially water, can help keep everyone hydrated and prevent anyone from getting hangry. Dramamine or other motion sickness prevention and curatives are always useful on the water, especially where it gets choppy, and bug repellant and a radio can make your time on the water more fun and relaxing.
Bringing along a few games can also help keep everyone sane!
Establish Safety Rules
Safe behavior is one of the most important aspects of boating safety, especially for children and others who are new to the sport. Make sure every child knows not to sit on the edge of the boat or try to grab for something falling overboard, and that they are not to touch boat controls or interfere with operators without explicit permission and supervision. Remind children that running on the boat is likely to cause them to slip and either hurt themselves, fall overboard, or both. Explain exactly why the boat’s rules exist to help your children internalize, understand, and respect those rules, and make sure any and all adults onboard follow those rules as well to provide a good example.
Make sure your kids know where essential supplies are, like life preservers, first aid kits, a fire extinguisher, and more. Tour the boat with them before you leave the dock so they can be prepared and won’t trip over unknown obstacles. Review boat safety rules with kids before leaving the dock, as well, to help drill these rules into their minds.
Avoid And Reduce Sun Exposure
Sun protection is vital for kids and adults of all ages, especially on the water where the sun is being reflected all around you. Make sure you’re using SPF 50 sunscreen on children old enough to wear it and reapply it every thirty minutes or after time in the water. Again, make sure you and other adults visibly put sunscreen on your face and neck to help the children learn from example.
Let your kids choose their own sunglasses, so long as the lenses are rated for UV protection. This will help the kids look after and hold on to their glasses longer. Long-sleeved shirts can help protect them from the sun, and can prevent chafing from the life jacket.
Helping your kids to understand boating, both how fun it is, and how to do it safely, can make family outings way more fun. For more tips, or if you need a boat or other boating help, stop by Rockingham Boat, proudly serving Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire.