Water Safety

Tubing

Tubing is an exhilarating experience that can be shared by groups of three or more, all of whom should be strong swimmers as there is always a possibility of ending up in the water. To go tubing you will need a driver for the boat who has experience, a participant who will ride behind the boat on a giant inflatable tube and a spotter to keep watch at all times and make sure the person on the tube is safe. Everyone must be vigilant and work together to watch for potential hazards. There are a few general guidelines that should be followed by people who are going out for a day of tubing:

Inspecting your equipment

Before you go to the lake or ocean, it is imperative that you thoroughly check out the boat and any other gear you will be using. Your boat should be in top working order and have plenty of gas, the tow line should be strong and not fraying and the tube should be free of any holes and scratches. If any of these items are broken or damaged at all, postpone your trip as they will not be safe to use.

Preparing to go tubing

Once you've determined the gear is in good working order, there are a few other items you should collect to take with you. The most important is a Coast Guard certified life preserver vest for each person. Even the strongest swimmer can benefit from wearing a vest. It will keep you afloat and alive if you end up spending a long period of time in the water. Always bring plenty of sun screen since to avoid burns, a first aid kit so you can attend to minor scratches or bruises and a cell phone so you can call 911 if there is an emergency. Before you leave your home, check the weather report to see what you can expect for the day. When the forecast calls for bad weather, it is safest to stay home and go tubing another day.

Alcoholic beverages

Leave the alcohol behind. Just a couple of drinks will slow your reflexes and make it impossible to have the reaction time you need to participate in such a fast paced activity. It is a proven fact that many boating accidents were caused, at least in part, due to the imbibing of alcohol.

While tubing

When you are out on the water it is important that everyone work together as a team. Each person has their own set of responsibilities. The person riding on the tube should work out a simple set of signals to indicate if they are in trouble and need help. The spotter must pay close attention to person riding the tube, and watch for signals or other signs of danger. The captain of the boat has the most difficult job of all. Not only is that person in charge of piloting the boat safely, they must also be aware of the skill level the person doing the tubing has. Driving the boat too fast or in choppy water could cause the tuber to flip over and crash into the water. The boat driver must also watch out for other boaters and people in the water. They will need to keep a respectful distance from others and be ever vigilant during the day's activities.

Regardless of how careful you are, chances are that at some point the person doing the tubing will fall off. After this happens, the driver of the boat must turn around slowly, and go back to pick the rider up. When the boat is close to that person, the engine should be turned off so there is no danger of anyone getting hurt by the motor. If the rider is ready to get back on and try again, the captain needs to be certain that both the spotter and the rider are ready to go before starting the boat again.

A day of tubing should be a happy and memorable experience for everyone. Following a few simple guidelines will help ensure that every participant has a safe and enjoyable day.