Water Smart® Tips
Top Ten Water Smart® Tips from the Lifesaving Society:
- Choose it - Use it! Always Wear a Lifejacket or Personal Flotation Device (PFD)!
Don’t just have it in the boat. Pick one and wear it. - Boat 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.
When getting ready for a day on the water, pay attention to the weather forecast and complete a simple safety checklist. - Drive Powerboats, Personal Watercraft 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 In, On, and Around the Water.
If you’re not within arms reach, you’ve gone too far. - Always Swim with a Buddy.
Make sure to 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.
Never dive into shallow water. If you're unsure of how deep the water is, enter feet first. - 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.