Keep kids safe on boats

Boating with your family and young children can be a positive experience if the proper safety precautions are taken ahead of time and during your trip. Here are some tips on what to do before and while boating to help keep your children as safe as possible.

Before embarking on your trip

Purchase a good life jacket.

Take your child to get fitted for a life jacket. Weight determines the size of the life jacket for children. Children 13 years or younger are required to always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket while on a boat.

Life jackets for children are typically designed for extra safety, by including a crotch strap that prevents the life jacket from riding up, a handle on the life jacket used to easily lift the child out of the water and head support that is padded to keep the child’s head above the water.

Consider wearing a life jacket yourself so your children will take your lead and wear theirs.

Childproof your boat.

Make sure all loose and sharp items that can be tripped over or a child can get caught up in are stored out of the way, but still easily accessible to you when you need them.

Take a family boat safety course.

To stress the importance of safety to your children, you can enroll in a safety course and include your older children. Many states require that older children take a boat safety course and carry the certification with them on the boat.

Prepare them for emergencies.

Ensure that your children understand what to do in an emergency, like where the safety equipment is stored and how to use life jackets. Practice safety drills as a way to help them learn emergency procedures.

Learn CPR.

CPR saves lives. It is important to take the extra precaution of learning CPR, as you never know when it will be needed. Knowing CPR can also give you peace of mind.

Enroll in swimming lessons.

Sign your children up for swimming lessons, so they can get used to the water and learn how to tread water and float.

Teach your children.

Teach kids that swimming in the ocean or lake is very different than swimming in a pool due to currents, undertows, changing weather and rocky surfaces. Instruct kids not to dive because you never know how shallow the water really is or the type of surface below the water.

Teach kids about the boat, including safety equipment, boat parts and nautical terms. You can create trivia about the boat as a fun way to engage them. Older kids may be able to assist you, or you can show them driving basics, docking, or teach them about the mechanics.

During your time on the water

Establish and enforce rules.

Set clear rules while children are on the boat, such as remaining seated, keeping hands and feet on the boat at all times, and no running on the boat. Lead by example. If they see you following the rules, they will most likely follow them too.

Items to be sure to have on board:

• Water and other hydrating liquids
• Snacks
• Plastic bags for wet clothes
• Hat, sunscreen and sunglasses
• Towels, blankets and jackets
• Ponchos

Keep kids entertained.

The more kids are involved in the trip the less likely they will be bored and get into trouble. Show them how to read a map and point out different points of interest on the map as well as ones you can see from your boat. Allow them to sit at the helm with the captain. Bring water toys and bathtub books to keep them occupied.

Keep young kids warm.

Younger children can get hypothermia more easily than adults. It’s important to notice when they are shivering and wrap them in a dry towel or blanket.

Docking the boat.

Docking a boat can be tricky with kids. Make sure one person is watching the kids as another person is docking the boat. It is often necessary for two people to dock a boat, so you may want to safely secure kids in the cabin while docking.

We hope these tips help guide you in keeping your children safe on a boat, so you can have an enjoyable experience out on the water. For further protection on the water, Markel boat insurance offers specialized boat insurance that protects you if you become legally liable for someone else’s injuries or property damage due to a boating accident. In addition, Markel boat insurance also offers protection to help cover the cost of repairing or replacing your boat in the event of an accident, fire, theft or vandalism.