By Bob Brown
With the opening of the lowland lake fishing season on April 22, reviewing boating safety rules would be pretty wise. No matter how much experience a boat owner or operator has, it’s always a good idea to review boating safety rules prior to leaving home.
It is one of the golden rules for boating safety that, sad to say, is not always followed. Whether this is because of ignorance or the It-won’t-happen-to-me syndrome or just plain complacency is an unknown. What is known is half of recreational boating fatalities happen on calm water and nine out 10 drownings happen on inland waters and a few hundred feet from shore.
In many incidents, life jackets were on board but not worn. According to State Parks boating program consultant Christina Fremont, there were 106 boating accidents last year, plus 17 boating fatalities -- the majority of which involved boats under 18 feet in length. Alcohol and drugs were found to be a major factor in 18 percent of those fatal accidents.
In Washington, using a substance that would impair your ability to operate a boat is known as boating under the influence (BUI). The law applies to all boats, motorized and non-motorized, which includes kayaks, canoes, rowboats and inflatable fishing rafts. If found guilty of BUI, the penalty is a gross misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000 and 364 days in jail.
While there have been reams of articles published on boating safety directed toward ensuring all boating is conducted in a manner that will maximize safety, very few articles have been published on keeping our four-legged friends safe while on the water. Contrary to popular belief, not all dogs can swim, and those that can aren’t all great swimmers. Water and weather conditions can cause problems for both people and dogs, even if they are strong swimmers. Any dog can get fatigued and disoriented, and especially older dogs can tire easily. Also, health issues such as hip or joint problems can make swimming difficult for some pets. Humans have the same problems.
There are no regulations requiring life jackets for pets. However, a dog life jacket can help keep the animal safe while on a boat or around any body of water.
Pet life jackets are designed to keep the animal afloat in a horizontal, swimming position and also serve as a retrieval device should the pet fall overboard. When purchasing a dog life jacket, make sure it fits your dog. It’s best to check the fit in the store of purchase and make sure the jacket has lifting handles to make retrieving your pet safer and easier. Also, check to see where the straps and buckles are located to make sure they don’t cause your pet any discomfort, and choose a bright-colored jacket to make it easier to spot the dog in the water.
Giving your pet a chance to get used to wearing the life jacket is important before actually getting on a boat. Allowing your pet to practice swimming while wearing the jacket is also recommended. Giving the animal an opportunity to get used to the boat while it’s on the trailer or at the dock is also suggested.
Boat operators are responsible for the safety and well-being of everyone on board. Shouldn’t our four-legged friends be accorded the same consideration? Some of us think so.
Bob Brown lives in Roy and is a freelance outdoors writer. He can be reached at robertb1285@centurylink.net.
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