BURRILLVILLE – With the summer season winding down and everyone trying to get as much recreational boating activities in as they can before kids head back to school in a couple of weeks, it’s very important that everyone is still boating safely.
I have recently attended some seaside events and festivals and noticed that many kids on boats were not wearing life jackets. The rule-of-thumb when it comes to boating safety and children on open water is something that should be remembered. Adults do not need to wear life jackets while out on boats, but there must be at least one life jacket onboard for every teenager and adult riding in a boat, available for them to wear in case of an emergency.
The rules are different for children. Kids 12 years old and younger should always wear a life jacket while riding in boats or on any type of watercraft. Kids are quick and unpredictable at times, and this includes during boating activities.
Li’l Skipper & Clam Cakes reminds kids and families about water and boating safety here in the Ocean State and other states that have ocean access. Li’l Skipper & Tackle Box reminds kids and families about water and boating safety in interior states with open water areas that are not seaside community inclusive. Everyone should practice putting on life jackets every now and then in order to familiarize themselves with proper life jacket usages in case of an emergency on open water. Seconds could be the difference between life and death. It’s well worth the effort to learn proper life jacket safety on the boat and in the water. There are many safe boating rules and regulations that can help save lives and proper life jacket usages is just one of them. Without a doubt, life jackets is one of the most important messages related to safe boating.
If you’d like to find more of these water and boating safety tips and messages you can visit the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management official website and view an entire Li’l Skipper & Clam Cakes coloring book, available online. This coloring book features many kids safety coloring pages with a variety of water and boating safety messages. Boating and watercraft activities do extend beyond the summer months and well into the fall season. Knowing these safety tips and teaching your kids how to be safer in boats on open water is crucial until the boating season comes to an end.
Enjoy the rest of your summer and fall boating season and remember that kids should always wear life jackets on boats.
Jim Weicherding is a Burrillville resident, and the founder and creator of an award-winning traffic safety effort Seasons of Safety. Weicherding contributes kids’ coloring cartoons, which can be printed and used to help parents discuss safety issues with their children. He has a long list of police officers and firefighters in his family and has worked with law enforcement and firefighters in a creative public safety capacity for more than two decades.
Good advice. Tragedy can strike in a moment. Kids are our most precious asset.