WaterSmart® Tips
Top Ten Water Smart® Tips from the Lifesaving Society:
- Choose it and Use it! Always wear a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD)!
Don’t just have it in the boat. Pick one and wear it. - Think about it. Boat sober and ride sober.
Don’t drink and drive your boat or snowmobile. - Get carded. Get the Pleasure Craft Operator Card.
The Lifesaving Society’s Boat Operator Accredited Training (BOAT)™ course is available at participating recreation departments and other aquatic facilities. Take the course to help you know the boating “rules of the road,” how to respond in a boating emergency and how to operate pleasure craft safely.
The Boat Study Guide contains everything you need to know to pass the test for a PCO card (Pleasure Craft Operator Card). This can be ordered online through THE SHOP. - Know before you go.
Check the weather forecast and complete a simple safety checklist. - Drive powerboats, personal water craft and snowmobiles responsibly.
Look before you act, stay low, drive at moderate speeds, be aware of changing weather conditions, and drive with extreme caution and proper lights after dark. - Closely supervise young children near water.
If you’re not “within arms’ reach”, you’ve gone too far. - Always swim with a buddy.
And play and swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard. - Don’t drive your snowmobile on thin ice, and wear a thermal protection buoyant suit.
- Protect your neck.
Go feet first, first time. Never dive into shallow water. - Learn to swim and learn lifesaving skills.
Go further…take a Lifesaving Society program: the Canadian Swim Patrol, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross, National Lifeguard Service® (NL) or other lifesaving program. Contact your local pool or aquatic facility for more information.