Water-skiing and other towing activities
Water-skiing, tubing and other
water activities can be fun. But
safety should always be first on the
fun list.
The rules surrounding waterskiing,
barefoot skiing, tubing,
knee-boarding and parasailing are
all the same. The Small Vessel
Regulations require a spotter to be
on board. Only personal watercrafts
designed to carry three or
more people can be used for towing
water-skiers and there must be a
seat available for each person
being towed in case recovery is
necessary. In addition, the towing
vessel cannot be remotely controlled
and towing activities are not
permitted in the period from one
hour after sunset to sunrise.
Don’t cruise with booze
Alcohol is involved in at
least half of all fatal recreational
power boating, boat travel
and automobile travel incidents.
Operators are responsible
for the safety of their guests
and should consider other users
of the waterway. They must
always be prepared and alerts.
Besides the possible legal
consequences, mixing alcohol
and boating is far more dangerous
that one may realize.
Fatigue, sun, wind and the
motion of the vessel can dull
senses. Alcohol intensifies
these effects, leaving you with
poorer fine motor skills (i.e.
hand-eye coordination and
impaired judgement).
Drinking and driving
(whether on land or water) is
illegal and punishable under the
Criminal Code. Convictions for
a first offence can result in
heavy punishment. Penalties
are no less than $600, prohibition
from operating a vessel
could be up to three years and
imprisonment could be for life.
However, the rules on the
waterways could be slightly
different for every province.
Surviving in cold water
When falling into cold water, your muscles are
instantly paralysed. Most times, the person in the
water experiences cold shocks.
Coldwater shock likely causes more deaths than
hypothermia. Canada’s typically cold waters are especially
dangerous if you are unexpectedly immersed in
them. For three to five minutes after sudden immersion,
you will gasp for breath. You could also experience
muscle spasms or a rise in your heart rate and
blood pressure. Worse yet, you could choke on water
or suffer a heart attack or a stroke.
Even strong swimmers
can succumb to the effects of coldwater shock.
Because cold water can paralyse the muscles, trying
to get a hold of a device while in the water or put one
on could be nearly impossible.
After surviving the initial shock of the cold water,
hypothermia is the next danger. Hypothermia is a drop
in core body temperature below the normal level that
occurs from a prolonged exposure to cold water, particularly
in water-soaked clothing or from direct
immersion. Someone who is exposed to cold water and
becoming hypothermic, can exhibit progressive signs
and symptoms such as:
• Shivering, slurred speech and semi-consciousness
• Slow and weak pulse, slow respiration, lack of
coordination, irrational, confused and sleepy behaviour
• Weak, irregular or absent pulse or respiration
•Loss of consciousness
However, a person can extend survival time by:
• Wearing a Canadian-approved lifejacket or personal
flotation device. Valuable energy will be lost
keep the head above water if not wearing a lifejacket
or PFD
• Climbing onto a nearby floating object to get as
much of the body out of or above the water as possible
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