|
|
Importance of Water Safety
Contributed by
Matthies, Frederick T
SAM
Member, Coast Guard
Auxiliary
Sept. 15, 2006
West Point Lake acreage (25,000 acres of land,
25,000 acres of water), length of shoreline (525 miles)
Drownings: 95 in the past 30 years! Four since
mid-April 2006!
- One 12-year old boy, named Jimmy,
his parents and younger sister were boating on the lake. They had
been jumping off the boat’s transom and swimming. They all had
their lifejackets on. For some reason, Jimmy took off his life
jacket and jumped in the water. His parents noticed him missing and
the father jumped in after him. The wind picked up and the father
was drifting away from the boat. Neither the father nor Jimmy had
on a lifejacket. DNR divers found Jimmy 3 hours later. Probs:
Supervision, lifejackets and weather! Jimmy could swim!
- A brother and sister, Tommy and Jenny,
aged 14 and 16 were with a Church group at a local marina.
The two were alone and took off running down the dock. When they
reached the end of the dock, they jumped in the water. A friend saw
them jump in and though they were swimming underwater to the beach.
They never surfaced at the beach. DNR divers were summoned and the
boys were found 90 minutes later. They had drowned and neither was
wearing lifejackets. Probs: Supervision, lifejackets, and poor
swimmers.
- A 53-year old man, Chuck, and his
wife Carol, were boating on the lake. The weather was calm and
there was no wind. Both were wearing their lifejackets. They
beached the boat on an island offshore and left the boat to do some
sunbathing and exploring. Before they noticed it, the wind picked
up and the boat drifted off the beach and was blown toward open
water. Chuck jumped in the water after the boat but tired quickly.
They last thing that Carol heard him say was, “something’s not
right”!!!! Chuck went under, Carol screamed. Neither had their
lifejackets on and had left them in the boat while they were at the
beach. A boater heard Carol’s scream and came closer. Chuck was
gone and DNR divers discovered his body an hour later in 25 feet of
water. Probs: Lifejackets, overly tired swimmer, winds, don’t swim
after a boat in high winds!
___________________________________________________________________________________
America's Boating
Course PowerPoint Slides
You can download these files from the above website; otherwise pl.
contact Mr. Frederick Matthies, frederick.t.matthies@sam.usace.army.mil
Chapter 1 - Know Your Boat
Chapter 2 - Before you get Underway
Chapter 3 - Navigating the Waterways
Chapter 4 - Operating your Boat/ PWC Safety
Chapter 5 - Legal Requirements of Boating
Chapter 6 - Boating Emergies.. What to Do
Chapter 7 - Enjoying Water Sports
Waterway Watch
 |
Boating
Safely
Courses
|
-
COMPLETION OF THIS COURSE WILL FULFILL THE REQUIREMENTS TO APPLY FOR A STATE BOATING LICENSE IN ALABAMA
,GEORGIA AND MISSISSIPPI.
-
TO SEE WHAT IS TAUGHT IN THE COURSE
Click Here
(use BACK to return)
-
Flotilla 81 Boating Safely Class Schedule -
March 20 and March 22, 2007 -
|
|
|
|
 |
