NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The week before the Memorial Day weekend is Safe Boating Week in Kansas, and it's important to prepare before you even get on the water.
"The Coast Guard estimates that human error accounts for most boating accidents," said Chelsea Hoffmeier, the Boating Education Coordinator for the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. Just being safe and prepared, make sure you've got all the right equipment on your boat and you know the boating laws and you know, take a boating safety course, read up on the rules and regulations and prepare before you even get out there."
How many life jackets do you need on your boat?
"On a boat, you need one life jacket for every single passenger plus yourself that is on the boat," Hoffmeier said. "They need to be Coast Guard approved, they have to be wearable, Coast Guard approved life jackets, and they can't just be any life jacket. They have to fit every person who they are intended for, so they have to be the right size, they have to be in good shape and in good serviceable condition, and they have to be readily available. We always say preferably worn. They don't do much good if they're just on the boat."
It's also important to be sober when on a boat.
"This is kind of the kickoff, the unofficial kickoff to boating season," Hoffmeier said. "It's going to be a busy weekend. Unfortunately, that means probably a lot of poor decisions might be made. One of those is, you know, drinking and boating. Yeah, you always want to leave it on the shore. It impairs your decision-making, your reaction time, and just all around unsafe for the operator and really the passengers. Even if the passengers are drinking while on the boat, that makes them less stable."
For more information, go to ksoutdoors.com/Boating.
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