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An Opportunity to Instill Recreational Boating Safety Values That Will Last a Lifetime

By Wayne Spivak
National Press Corps
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

It is often said that a young mind is an impressionable one. There is great truth to this saying, as countless academic studies have proven that a young mind is like a sponge: it will just keep soaking up knowledge.

While it's important for these young minds to soak up knowledge about the 3R's (reading, writing and arithmetic), for those who enjoy the water, or for those whose parents enjoy the water, there is no better time to instill recreational boating safety values.

PFDs

Some of my earliest memories about boating consist of my father and uncles on small rowboats, fishing on lakes throughout upstate New York. We had a couple of oars, fishing rods, bait and a tackle box, but I really don't remember any life jackets. I do remember having a single worn out cushion. Whether it floated, or was a floatation device, I couldn't say.

Today, even if there wasn't a federal law in place, we as adults should be inculcating our children on the need to wear Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs). For those of us who do a lot of boating, think about spending a few extra bucks and getting a PFD that is actually comfortable.

Don't forget snazzy! Children are style conscious. If you ever walk around docks where there are kids, you're bound to hear complaints about wearing PFDs. The old style horseshoe Type II jackets just don't cut it with today's aspiring child stars. However, a sporty Type II or Type III jacket with psychedelic colors or hearts will get the kids excited!

Nautical Terminology

Here again, is an easy way to increase your child's educational quotient, while at the same time instilling information that can serve to increase the safety of all aboard your—or someone else's—boat. Starboard, port, forward, aft—these simple terms are extremely important when describing an action in relation to a given boat.

Using proper terminology can be life saving for both the child and adult, because it eliminates confusion.

Radio Procedures

As a kid, we never had a radio in our boats. They were just too expensive. We also didn't have eBay! But today, eBay aside, VHF radios of all kinds, sizes and dollar ranges abound.

That being said, ever listen to the marine radio on a fine summer weekend? No, I'm not talking about the rude adults or those who need some radio manners and education. I'm talking about the unsupervised children who get on the radio because it's a cool toy!

Educating our children on the "who, what, where and why" of radio procedures can benefit recreational boating safety in several ways. First, it gets the kids off the radio. Second, should your children ever really need to use the radio, they will know what to do. Third, both the Coast Guard and others who listen to Channel 16 will hear a difference in the tone and quality of information.

Proper use of nautical terminology helps in this area. Using proper terminology and radio procedure can be crucial in "trusting" the information the child is giving.

Fourth, teaching your child how to use the radio will help them in school. Public speaking, whether in front of a small class or on the radio, is a learned trait. Unfortunately, this isn't taught until college, so you're actually preparing the child early.

Basic Navigation

Nothing could be worse than providing all the aforementioned training and leaving out basic navigation. All children (obviously age dependent) can be taught to read a chart, and by using landmarks, give an approximation of their current location.

By making it a game, you can instill more safety values, while assisting your child in terrestrial life (school). By giving your child real-life experience, you are helping to develop skills that they may not learn for several years, or only learn in "book" form.

Safety Equipment

Last, and certainly not least, we should teach our children about the safety equipment we carry on our boats. The fire extinguisher, flares, whistles, mirrors, and the radio are all items that should not be foreign to them. Remember, even though they are children, they are members of the crew. They can be crucial to observing and avoiding dangerous situations.

Teach your children how a fire extinguisher works—teach the ABCs of fire fighting. Have them practice with an extinguisher. You may never know when this experience will come in handy, whether on the boat or in the kitchen.

Teach them about flares, the dangers and the benefits of using them properly. Teach them how to use flares, when to use flares, and most importantly, that flares are NOT A TOY.  Sidestepping this issue is dangerous. Ask any police officer about how they've taught their children not to handle firearms.

Teach your children about whistles and mirrors, which should be attached to their PFDs. Tell them, show them, and practice with them, not only using these pieces of safety equipment, but also using man overboard drills.

Our children are never too young to learn. It is just how we go about teaching them recreational boating safety that will make the difference. Make a game of each lesson. Make it enjoyable. As they get older, add more and more information, so that by the time they are teenagers, they will not only able to take the boat out (local law permitting), but they will be fully knowledgeable about both vessel and recreational boating safety.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary can assist in this process. We have several programs available for children, such as Boating Fun (ages 4-9) and Waypoints (ages 10-12). Many of the older children (9 and up) can take Boating Safely with their parents.

For more information, please contact your local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla. You can find them by contacting your local U.S. Coast Guard unit (www.uscg.mil) or on the web at (http://nws.cgaux.org).