May 19, 2017, 10:45:00 AM CDT Jun 25, 2024, 10:58:30 AM CDT

Boat and lake safety for kids: 6 must-know rules

Learn ways to keep kids safe during a lake day

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little girl in a life jacket riding on a boat little girl in a life jacket riding on a boat

In summertime, many families will head to the lake to beat the heat and cool off. To keep you and your family safe, the experts from the Children's Health℠ Injury Prevention program offer these boating and lake safety rules for kids.

1. Enroll in a boater safety course

Taking a boater safety course is required in Texas for anyone born on or after September 1, 1993. A boater safety course can make boat rides safer and more enjoyable for everyone onboard. Texas Parks and Wildlife provides answers to frequently asked questions about safely operating a boat.

2. Wear a well-fitted and approved life jacket

Make sure you and your child wear a U.S. Coast-Guard approved life jacket at all times when boating or on a personal watercraft. A properly fitted life jacket for kids is snug, yet comfortable, and will not move above the chin or ears when you lift it at the shoulders. And remember that kids do what their parents do. Set a good example and show them that safety is important to you by wearing your life jacket too, even if you're a strong swimmer.

Watch this video about finding a well-fitted life jacket for your child.

Did you know? 85% of people who drown in boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket (according to the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division). Texas life jacket laws state all children under 13 are required to wear a life jacket on boats under 26 feet in length.

3. Don't drink alcohol while boating

Driving a boat under the influence of alcohol is illegal. Alcohol makes it difficult to drive safely, to see objects in the water and to supervise young children so they are safe. Don't take the risk – don't drink alcohol if you're driving a boat.

Did you know? Most boating accidents happen when the driver has been drinking. In Texas, a person arrested for Boating While Intoxicated (BWI) may go to jail for up to 180 days and be charged up to $2,000. They may also get their motor vehicle driver's license suspended.

4. Practice active supervision as the best protection

Assign an adult Water Watcher to supervise kids in or around the lake. A water watcher is only focused on watching the water, and not socializing, texting, fishing, drinking or reading. Touch supervision – or being within one arm's length distance – is essential for young children and children who are not strong swimmers.

5. Only swim in designated swimming areas and don't dive

If you let your children swim in open water, it may be difficult for other boaters to see them. Also, make sure that you and your children don't dive into the lake because it's usually too dark to see just how far down the bottom really is.

6. Throw, don't go

If you see someone struggling in the water, find a flotation device to throw to them. Never jump in to save someone because you could be pulled under, too.

Learn more

Learn more summer safety tips from experts at Children's Health about keeping your family safe and making summer smart.

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