National Safe Boating Week - 2nd to 8th October 2021

National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) is a safety initiative of Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group (ANZSBEG), of which Royal Life Saving has been a member on this group for many years.

The aim of NSBW is to increase safer boating practices and promote responsible boat ownership for commercial and recreational use.

Whenever you are on the water everybody has a responsibility to ensure the safe operation of their boats and come home unharmed to their loved ones.

• NSBW for 2021 has three themes
• Maintenance—Service it—'be a responsible boat owner’ ‘maintain your boat and your equipment
  • Vessels need regular maintenance, servicing and safety checks
  • Equipment failures or vessel breakdowns can endanger your crew and yourself. You should inspect, service and maintain the vessel’s structure, engine and electrical systems and safety equipment.
  • Be systematic about your maintenance and have a written maintenance schedule. Keep proper records of what maintenance has been done. Keeping proper records ensures you can track your maintenance program and prove that your vessel and equipment are appropriately maintained.
  • Follow manufacturer guidelines and instructions concerning maintenance requirements. When performing maintenance or repairs, ask yourself—would I be happy for my child, parent, or spouse to sail with this repair in place?
• Safety equipment—Pack it—'be prepared before heading out onto the water’
  • Having the correct safety equipment can help you survive when the unexpected happens.
  • To be effective, safety equipment needs to be properly maintained and stored so that when needed, it works.
  • Your safety equipment must be in good condition. Check that your flares and lifejackets are in date and your distress beacon is registered with AMSA.
  • Take the 30 second challenge to find out if you’re ready for such an emergency.
• Lifejackets—Wear it—'Wear your Lifejacket to Work Day’
  • If you end up in the water you are much more likely to survive if you are wearing a lifejacket.
  • When accidents happen, there’s rarely time to put a lifejacket on.
  • A lifejacket only works if you’re wearing it.
  • There are many types of lifejackets available today that meet the appropriate Australian standards, find the style that works for you and wear it.

It is important that lifejackets are worn by all participants on a boat or vessel at all times in accordance with current regulations. If an accident happens, a lifejacket is of no use if is stowed away.

Even competent swimmers should wear a lifejacket when they are in open water or involved in activities such as fishing, boating and jet skiing because, if an accident happens, they may need to spend a long time in the water awaiting rescue, have to swim a long distance to shore, or they may be injured or unconscious.

A lifejacket will keep a person buoyant, particularly if they’ve been in the water a long time and get tired. Some types of lifejacket can help to roll a person onto their back to keep their face out of water, even if they are unconscious.

Find out more about lifejackets here

Wear your Lifejacket to Work Day

Wear your lifejacket to work on Friday 2 October 2021.

Post a picture of yourself wearing one to social media with the hashtags #safeboating and #wearittowork.