As the number of people hitting the waterways goes up, so does the number of rescue calls to the Coast Guard.
On Saturday, the Coast Guard rescued three people from a sinking 18 foot catamaran off the coast of Folly Beach, and earlier that afternoon there were reports of a possible missing boater after an overturned kayak was found near the Morris Island Light house.
Officials say there are a number of steps you can take to lower your risk of needing their help.
The first thing you should do is to make sure you have life jackets for every person on board. You should also make sure they are the right size. In 2008 over two-thirds of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, 90% were not wearing a life jacket.
Also, be sure to have a means of communication. You can use a cell phone, but remember, they may not get reception depending on how far off the coast you go. Another option is a Marine Band VHF Radio. You can use one to make a distress call to the Coast Guard.
Officials also recommend you have a float plan in place with a friend or relative. This plan should describe the vessel, including its registration number, length, make, horsepower, and engine type. You should also include a detailed route, your planned departure time, and your expected return time. Give the name, address, and telephone number of each person on board and an emergency contact.
Something else the Coast Guard says you should consider is that alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. So if you are going boating, kayaking or doing any other watersport, they say you should be responsible. You can get arrested for boating under the influence.
For more information on boating safety, head to the following website:
http://www.boat-ed.com/sc/handbook/
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