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Boating: How to Boat: Safety

Staying Afloat
It is common belief that someone dressed in heavy clothing or waders will sink immediately if they fall overboard. This is not true. Air trapped in clothing provides considerable flotation, and bending the knees will trap air in waders, providing additional flotation. To stay afloat follow these rules:

* Remain calm, do not thrash about or try to remove clothing or footwear. This leads to exhaustion and increases the loss of air that keeps you afloat.
* Keep your PFD on.
* Keep your knees bent.
* Float on your back and paddle slowly to safety.



 
More in this section...
  Personal Flotation Devices
  Personal Watercraft Conspicuity
  Propellor Blades Warning
  Recreational Recall Campaign Database
  Rough Water Readiness
  Safety Gear First
  Staying Afloat
  Sun Burns and Sunscreen
  Weather
  Weather 101: How to Read Clouds