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Because Ontario contains so many lakes and rivers, that Canadian province also has lots of boat-owners. In addition, a fair number of vacationers have elected to rent a boat. For that reason, Ontario’s personal injury lawyers want to highlight the specifics, regarding the ways to stay safe, while spending time on the water.
Common sense rules:
• Keep a safe distance from swimmers; keep a safe distance from other boats.
• Do not allow your vessel to create a dangerous wake. If a vessel’s high-speed aids formation of such a wake, that could pose a danger to other vessels, as well as to the coastline and the docks.
• Do not stand at and operate your boat’s wheel after having consumed alcohol.
• Be on the alert for the appearance of any type of watercraft.
• Keep an eye out for submerged objects.
Government regulations that apply to travel on the water:
Those residents of Ontario that are over the age of 16, and plan to spend time operating a boat’s wheel need to take and pass a boating safety course. All those students that pass the named course become eligible for possession of a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. And in case of a mishap or accident in the waters, it is important to consult with a Personal Injury Lawyer in Brantford.
What boat-owners should have on-board, in order to be prepared for a possible emergency:
• One life jacket or floatation device for each passenger. That same device must be the correct size for the person that might need to use it.
• A 15 m long heaving line; it should be made of rope, chain or fiberglass.
• Government-approved flares or a working flashlight;
• A working horn or similar device, to be used for sounding an alarm;
• An anchor with 15 m of chain or rope attached to it;
• A paddle or similar object, which can be used to propel vessel, in the event that the fuel runs out, or fails to start the boat’s engine.
• A tool kit, one that can be used for tackling simple problems;
• A Class 5 fire extinguisher;
• A first aid kit;
• A water pump. It would not hurt to have a couple buckets, too, in case the pump failed to function.
Other items that could prove useful or necessary:
• Extra batteries for a flashlight or any other device that uses batteries;
• Extra clothing, in case someone on board gets drenched by a wave.
• Medications, in case one of the anticipated passengers must rely on the availability of a certain drug. It could also prove necessary to have the medications that must be used if someone has an allergic attack.
• Food supplies that do not have to be refrigerated. Those might be supplemented with some fresh fish, if sturdy fishing poles and bait had been packed-in with the other supplies.