The long weekend, the nice weather and maybe even a little cabin fever.  Local lakes are going to be busy as boaters hit the water.
 
The May Long Weekend is often viewed as the kick off to boating season and it's also the kick off to North American Safe Boating Awareness Week.
 
With so many people hitting the water for the first time this weekend, the Canadian Safe Boating Council has a few reminders.
 
Director of the Canadian Safe Boating Council, Ian Gilson says, "Preparedness is a key component right now. For your boat: making sure it has all the safety equipment onboard and it's fully gassed up, things of that nature and that you have left what we call a "float plan" which is telling someone who is responsible where you're going, who is going with you, a description of your boat, and when you plan to return."
 
There are a staggering percentage of serious injuries when it comes to being impaired on the water and Gilson stressed, "It's important not to drink in the boat. 40% of the boating-related fatalities are for people who have been drinking or are high on drugs so it's really important that people are of a sound mind when they are operating the boat."
 
Gilson added that with all of the excitement of getting out with the boat, it's easy to forget the basics, like life jackets.
 
He warned, "It's not good enough just to have it in the boat because if you get tossed overboard, the wind and the waves can carry the boat away from you and then you're in trouble."
 
Gilson also reminds boaters that having an operators license doesn't necessarily prepare you to run a boat and that it's a good idea for operators to take a safety course as well.
 
North American Safe Boating Awareness Week runs through May 26th with a focus on:
  • life jackets
  • not drinking and boating
  • taking a safe boating course
  • being prepared
  • risks associated with cold water.