Angela Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 19/02) - Before you head out onto the water this summer, there are a few things you may want to keep in mind.

Like telling someone responsible where you're going and when you'll be back. Or making sure your life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) fits properly and ensuring you have all required safety equipment for the type of watercraft you will be operating.

"I think before you head out on a trip, you should plan ahead," says Canadian Coast Guard boating safety development officer Stephen Sherburne. "You need to know you have everything, including the safety equipment required by law."

The type of safety equipment required by law varies depending on the size of your boat and whether or not it's powered. Detailed information on which type of watercraft requires which type of safety equipment can be found in the Safe Boating Guide, distributed by the Office of Boating Safety in the Diamond Plaza on Franklin Ave.

A couple things people should keep in mind about safety equipment, says Sherburne, is that some pieces of equipment don't have an unlimited lifespan and not all PFDs are approved for use in Canada.

Flares are only good for four years after the date of manufacture, he says, and they also have to be suitable for a marine environment. They also need to be Canadian approved. A majority of flares have an expiration date printed on the packages.

But there is one thing people who buy flares cannot do, says Sherburne.

"You cannot test the flare to see what it looks like," he says. "It is a crime."

As for the PFDs, consumers should look for PFDs which are Canadian Coast Guard/DOT approved. U.S. Coast approved PFDs are not recognized in Canada.

Sherburne says one of the key concerns for boaters is trip planning.

"If you don't tell anyone where you're going and if you're overdue, you won't get the assistance you need."

Also important is checking the weather before you head out.

"The weather can change really, really quickly," he says. "You need to know what kind of conditions you'll be in."

Weather conditions don't just include temperature and whether or not it will be sunny, says Sherburne, it also includes the amount of visibility and what the wind's like.

Canadians boaters are becoming more focused on safety, says Sherburne.

"Typically in Canada, there are 200 fatalities every boating season. But you have to realize active recreational boating has increased but drowning has not. People have been more safety-oriented."

There is another factor which can cause accidents while on the water, says Sherburne.

"One thing many Canadians don't realize is drinking and operating a boat is a crime," he says. "Sunlight, wave action and wind all assist in impairment. It affects the way we react to stress, our reflexes and assessment of an emergency situation."

Operating a boat while impaired is an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

One thing boaters returning from a trip should remember is to notify the person you told where you would be and when you would be back that you're home from your trip.

That way, rescuers aren't called out to assist unnecessarily.