Operator error, equipment malfunction or failure, recreational-boat operator inexperience, and the operator’s lack of maintenance and knowledge have all been identified as the most common causes of PWC-related incidents. Also, the operator’s lack of technical experience, maintenance expertise, or knowledge about the personal watercraft, as well as his or her inability to operate the personal watercraft.
Neck, back, head, extremities, eyes, and brain injuries are common in PWC incidents. Injury to the operator’s eyes, ears, and lips is also a possibility. They’re also common in PWC-related accidents involving recreational boating entertainment, and they may happen as a result of the operator’s negligence or lack of information about PWC operations.
Catastrophic injuries, traumatic amputations, disfigurement, blindness, paralysis, and traumatic brain injury are all common outcomes of personal watercraft incidents. Severe burns, concussions, blunt-force trauma, lacerations and lacerations, and spinal cord injuries are some of the other injuries that can occur.
One out of every 106 operations was found to have a PWC-related injury in a recent study. This is much higher than the 1 in 10,000 incidences recorded incomparable personal watercraft incidents. The number of recorded injuries in recreational boating incidents involving the use of water skis was also found to be higher in the same study. Because many operators lack any water safety experience, this is the case.
The time between purchasing a new PWC and having an accident is minimal. Most operators bought their boat before boating safety training or taking advantage of any boating safety knowledge or education programs. The majority of these operators are also owners of other forms of personal watercraft, and the PWC was purchased without any protection or educational knowledge. Operators must receive the requisite safety training to ensure that they are mindful of any potential hazards associated with using a PWC and can take steps to minimize the risk of injury. Furthermore, many operators are in a rush to get a boat out on the water. They rush through safety training, frequently overlooking critical safety details or measures that could save them time and money.
To could the risk of injury; a successful PWC operator should take the following steps:
- Prepare a boat for transportation by properly loading it. The majority of operators have a bad habit of letting their PWCs weigh down or not adequately bracing their boat for transport. It is much easier for a boat to capsize and cause damage if it is allowed to float. Although some operators have started placing weights on their vessels, this is extremely risky and can lead to capsizing. This is particularly true if operators plan to transport their boat across bodies of water where the boat’s weight can present a challenge. Instead, operators should put some weight on their boat to keep it from capsizing.
- Before driving a boat across a body of water or around a shore break, make sure it is fully stabilized and that any rigging is in place.
- Keep a close eye on any people, especially children, while out on the water. This entails keeping an eye on children’s play and ensuring that they are appropriately seated out of the water. It also entails keeping an eye on children as they swim and ensuring they are wearing life jackets.
- Never drink or use drugs while boating to avoid being inebriated and losing control.