23
SAFETY
Operator Safety
Operator Fatig u e and Dehydration
Long hours of boating with exposure to noise, vibration, sun, glare and
wind can result in operator fatigue and dehydration. These conditions
can affect your balance, vision, judgment and reaction time. F atigue
and dehydration can increase your risk of an accident resulting in
bodily injury or death. Combining alcohol consumption with this
condition greatly increases your risk of causing an accident.
Learn to recognize the early symptoms of fatigue, and allow your body
to recover by taking a break from operating the watercraft. Drink
plenty of non-alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration, and wear
protective riding gear to protect against exposure to weather elements.
Hypothermia
Your life may depend on a clear understanding of the effects of cold
water on the human body. Many suspected drowning victims actually
died from cold exposure (hypothermia) rather than drowning.
Hypothermia can begin in water as warm as 80°F(27°C). It’s a
condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.
Violent shivering develops, which may give way to confusion and a
loss of body movement. Hypothermia can result in severe injury or
death i n a very short time.
To avoid hypothermia:
S Dress warmly
S Wear proper gear and stay as dry as possible
S Seek a warm environment at the first sign of hypothermia (mild
shivering)
If you fall into the water:
S Do not discard clothing
S While wearing your life jacket, draw your knees up toward your
chest and hold them there with your arms in the Heat Escape Lessen-
ing Posture (HELP)
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