Water Skiing Safety
Whether you enjoy water skiing once in a while or you are a water skiing fanatic, it's a good idea to review safety measures periodically. Although it is safer than many other sports, water skiing is a speed sport, and people get hurt doing it. Water skiing injuries range in seriousness from bumps and bruises to death, and most of them are preventable. Water skiing safety is a joint responsibility shared by the boat operator, observer and skier.
- Communication. Before you leave the dock, work out hand signals so that the skier can communicate with the people on the boat.
- Always wear a Coast Guard approved flotation device when you are water skiing. No matter how great a skier you are or how well you swim, if you lose consciousness you can drown.
- Always take an observer with you. The boat operator cannot drive safely and watch the skier at the same time, and there should always be someone watching when you are water skiing.
- Know the area. Know where submerged hazards and shallow water areas are. Ask other boaters and skiers about any hazards.
- Avoid congested areas.Water skiing takes a lot of room, and it's dangerous to get too near slower fishing boats, swimmers, and other people who are sharing the water with you.
- Check the weather before you go.Water skiing is hazardous during rain, choppy weather and electrical storms. If it's going to be cool, you may need to wear a wet suit to avoid hypothermia.
- Don't drink or use judgment-impairing substances. That includes the boat operator, observer and skier. Alcohol and drugs are implicated in far too many water skiing injuries and fatalities.
Have fun water skiing, and avoid unnecessary injuries. Review safety guidelines frequently and ski safely.