Safety on board - GRAND Inflatable Boats

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Safety equipment

Safety on the water

In case of an incident/accident

In case of boat overturn

UNFORTUNATELY the boating safety has a VERY DRAMATIC BACKGROUND. Statistics knows how many people have been siezed by oceans, seas, rivers, lakes forever… as the result of their careless, how many people have been lost amid such romantic enjoyment like boating. And in this connection the only way for You is: FIRST: YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE ALL THE DANGERS YOU MAY ENCOUNTER. SECOND: YOU MUST BE PREPARED TO DEAL WITH THEM WHEN THEY ARISE. To be prepared means:

• to get safety equipment
• to get safety and rescue knowledge
• to follow the safety rules
The best way to learn the safety requirements is to take the Boating Safety Courses. Here we'd like to mention just some of the most important points.

		Safety equipment
		1. PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFDs). PFDs are strictly required by all the maritime laws in all the countries all over the world. There are a lot of different types of PFDs: • off-shore life jackets with neck support • near-shore buoyant life vests with neck support • light-weight life vests without neck support • throw-able devices: cushions, life rings, horseshoe buoys • buoyant life-saving clothes (jackets, trousers, etc.). To choose the right and legal PFDs it's better to contact your boating safety office to check for the concrete requirements. In every case the PFDs should have an official approval for use. AND REMEMBER - IT CAN BECOME YOUR ONLY AND LAST CHANCE TO BE ALIVE!!! 2. LIGHTS AND SIGNALS. Operating a boat at night without proper lights is just dumb, and against the law. So, look after your running lights to keep them in a good condition. Check your local navigation rules for the current regulations about the navigation signals and all necessary approvals for the navigation equipment - as they are different in different countries. Also sound signals, such as a whistle, a horn and visual distress signals, such as distress flares, smoke flares or even a simple electric torch are very reasonably to have on board - do not forget them! 3. HANDHELD VHF RADIO. Of course the radios have nothing to do with inflatables, but every boater should remember about them. A radio now is very portable, not heavy and it's not so complicated in use as it seems. There's a number of reasons to get it in your boat - do it. This thing is not for saying "HELLO!" - you may need it to say "HELP!!!". Using the VHF channel No16 in case of trouble you will be surrounded by rescuers or nearest boaters in minutes. 4. FIRE EXTINGUISHER. A fire extinguisher (even the smallest one) is recommended for every boat. Of course, for small dinghies with adjustable engines it's quite complicated. But for bigger boats, and especially for the boats with built-in fuel tanks it's quite necessary. Even if you never use it for your own boat - somebody else may need it in the sea or in the marina.
		Safety on the water
		Of course, boating is a great enjoyment, but you must always remember that your life, lives of your passengers and the other people around are under the risk. Just some of the most common advice which will help you to avoid problems and enjoy boating: 1. KEEP OUT OF MARKED SWIMMING AREAS, DIVING AREAS AND COMMERCIALLY USED AREAS. 2. BE TOP ATTENTIVE NEAR ANY SWIMMING PEOPLE IN WATER AND FLOATING DIVERS BUOYS WITH "DIVER UNDER WATER" FLAGS. DO NOT APPROACH THEM WITH A RUNNING ENGINE. 3. WHEN BOATING ON HIGH SPEEDS, KEEP ALL YOUR PASSENGERS SEATING ON THE BOAT SEATS OR INSIDE THE BOAT. DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO SEAT ON THE BOARD, ESPECIALLY ON THE BOW. 4. Driving power boat ALWAYS WEAR THE ENGINE EMERGENCY STOP LANYARD ON YOUR HAND !!! 5. DO NOT MAKE SUDDEN TURNS WITHOUT ADVANCED WARNING OF PASSENGERS.

		In case of accident / incident
		Most of incidents / accidents are caused by: persons falling overboard, collisions with other boats or objects in the water and boat damage or destruction underway. What to do in these moments ? A. Falling overboard. In case it's one of your passengers : do not fuss! Slowly turn the boat back and take him out of the water. REMEMBER: AT THIS MOMENT THE PROPELLER OF YOUR ENGINE IS A BIGGEST DANGER TO HIM! In case it's you (driver) and there's nobody in the boat you have only two possible ways: - if at that moment you wear the engine emergency stop lanyard - the engine will immediately stop and you can reach the boat easily. - if you did not wear the engine stop lanyard and engine keeps running - you will need lots of LUCK... B. Deflated tube. In case you have deflated up to 50% of buoyancy chambers - the problem is not too serious. Just switch the engine to neutral gear, fold the damaged part of the tube into the boat, replace the passengers and luggage from the deflated part to balance the boat, and go to the neatest coastline SLOWLY. Every inflatable has enough buoyancy reserves to float perfectly even with some empty chambers.
		In case of the boat overturn
		As an inflatable boat is almost not sinkable at all - NEVER LEAVE THE BOAT IF YOU ARE WITHOUT A PFD, OR IF YOU ARE QUITE FAR FROM THE SHORE !!! Stay with the boat and keep the lifeline - in most cases another boaters will see it and help you. If you feel yourself confidently, you can try to overturn the boat back. In every case remember: your boat is your best life-raft.


		HAVE A PLEASANT & SAFE BOATING !!!

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