99TravelSafe.com
53 – Water Skiing Safety!
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
WEAR a life jacket when water skiing.
Be sure the boat and ski equipment are in good shape.
Your body should be fit and strong for water skiing. Do weight training if necessary!
Do warm-up exercises before a water skiing session so that your body is ready!
Seek out low-traffic areas. Avoid heavily traveled boating lanes and areas reserved for fishing.
Do NOT ski at night or in restricted areas.
BEWARE of moving propellers. Do NOT approach a boat with a running motor.
Always turn the boat motor completely OFF when you approach a fallen skier.
Watch the water ahead of you at all times.
Do not go it alone. The driver needs to focus on what's ahead.
Make sure there's someone else in the boat to watch you ski.
Run parallel to shore and come in slowly when landing. Sit down if coming in too fast.
Understand the driver. Clarify the hand signals the driver will use for slowing down, speeding up and turning around.
Learn to swim.
Know local weather conditions. Make sure the water and weather conditions are safe.
Water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming, boating or any activities on the water as soon as you see or hear a storm. Also, heavy rains can make certain areas dangerous.
Prevent hypothermia. Wear a wet suit in cold water to prevent hypothermia, a condition in which your body temperature drops dangerously low.