Fishing Forum

[center][/center][center][font "Arial"][size 5]Booze & Boats
Don't Mix[/size][/font][font "Arial"][size 6]
[/size][/font][font "Arial"][size 2]More than 50% of the boating accidents that result in death can be traced to alcohol impairment![/size][/font][/center] [center] [/center] [center][font "Arial Black"][#800000][size 5]ALCOHOL & WATER SAFETY [/size][/#800000][/font][/center] [font "Arial"][size 2]Information obtained from[/size][/font]
National Safe Boating Council [center] [/center] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]ALCOHOL'S EFFECTS ON THE BODY[/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Most states define impairment at .10% Blood Alcohol Content (B.A.C.). However, even lower levels of blood alcohol may affect a person's balance, vision or judgment. This can be especially dangerous when on the water.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [indent] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]BALANCE.......[/size][/#808080][/font][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2] Alcohol impacts an individual's sense of balance. A moment of dizziness or even a mis-step may not cause any harm on your patio or in a restaurant, but it can lead to disaster on the water.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]VISION........ [/size][/#808080][/font][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Safe boating requires good vision and too much alcohol can seriously restrict your vision. It can create a "tunnel vision" effect, reducing peripheral vision. It can impair your ability to "focus" on objects and it can reduce your night vision, especially for reds and greens.....the colors of running lights.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left][/indent] [left] [/left] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]BOATING, ALCOHOL AND SAFETY[/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Operating a boat is at least as complicated as driving a car and a boating accident can be just as dangerous as an automobile accident. Yet many people who would never drink drunk think it's safe to operate their boat after drinking. It isn't. In fact, 50% of all boating fatalities are alcohol related. Operating a boat while intoxicated is illegal and dangerous.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [center][font "Arial"][#000000][size 3][/size][/#000000][/font][/center] [left] [/left] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]KNOW HOW ALCOHOL AFFECTS YOU![/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Alcohol affects people differently. The chart below shows how much the Blood Alcohol Content is raised by consuming alcohol in a two hour period. The chart provides averages only, and reactions will vary depending upon such factors as food in the stomach, medication, mood and fatigue.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [center][font "Arial"][#000000][size 3][/size][/#000000][/font][/center] [center][size 2]Or try calculating your own information with our [/size][url "http://www.boatingsafety.com/wow/bottom.htm"][#003399][size 2]BAC Calculator[/size][/#003399][/url][/center] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]QUESTIONS & ANSWERS[/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [indent] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Q- Why do some people get tipsy on just one or two drinks?[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]A- A number of things can influence how alcohol affects you. Drinking on an empty stomach, when your tired, tense or medication can all increase alcohol's effects. How fast you drink and the amount of alcohol in your drink can also affect alcohol's impact.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Q- What's the fastest way to sober up?[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]A- There are no shortcuts. Cold showers, hot coffee and other "remedies" won't make up sober. Only time will do that. All you can do is wait.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Q- How soon after drinking can a person drive?[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]A- There's no easy answer-Remember, your body can process about one drink in an hour, so pace yourself.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left][/indent] [left] [/left] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]TIPS FOR SAFE BOATING[/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [ul] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Take a boating safety class offered by your local Power Squadron, Coast Guard Auxiliary or Red Cross.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Know your boat's load limit, and don't exceed it. A safe boat is a well-equipped boat. Always carry the necessary safety gear.....and know how to use it.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Knowing how to swim just makes good sense if you spend time on the water. If you don't know how, LEARN. However, even good swimmers do not always survive the shock or panic of sudden immersion in cold water.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Keep lifejackets visible and accessible.......and never make someone feel uncomfortable if they choose to wear a life jacket.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Learn "the rules of the road".....and obey them![/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Don't overdo your boating fun. In 3 hours of normal boating, the noise, motion, sun, wind and glare can frequently double an individual's reaction time.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Remember, while a drink or two can relax you and make your day more enjoyable, they may also slow your reaction time, reduce your coordination, and increase your susceptibility to hypothermia.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left][/li][/ul] [left] [/left] [left][font "Arial"][#808080][size 3]ALCOHOL FACTS[/size][/#808080][/font][/left] [ul] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Moderation and common sense should dictate how much alcohol is consumed on your boat. Limit your consumption to one drink (or less) per hour. The best policy is to wait until you're anchored for the day before enjoying alcoholic beverages aboard.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Ideally, the helmsman should not drink. A responsible boat owner will never allow a person under the influence to operate the boat.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Alcohol affects you judgment. It makes you think you can function better than when you are sober. But in fact, alcohol slows your reaction time considerably.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Hard liquor may hit a little harder or faster than beer or wine-especially if it is not diluted...but too much beer or wine can be just as bad as too much liquor.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Know how much you're drinking. Even moderate drinkers may be drinking more than they think if they aren't measuring their drinks. If you're serving mixed drinks keep a jigger handy...and use it.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left] [li] [left][font "Arial"][#000000][size 2]Images can be deceiving. Some drinks can be stronger than you think. A daiquiri can have more than twice the alcohol than a beer or whiskey and soda. Know what you're drinking....and know when to say when.[/size][/#000000][/font][/left][/li][/ul] [center][/center]
[signature]

[center][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 4]Preventable Tragedy[/size][/#ff0000][/font][/center] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]A recent tragic accident prompts this reminder about boating and alcohol. Two boaters, out for a day of fishing, were returning to the boat ramp to load up for the day. Less than one-half mile from the ramp they ran into a channel marker. Both men were thrown from the boat. One man survived, the other did not. Investigation of the accident turned up several beer cans in the boat. Although the final investigation has not been concluded, there is a great possibility that alcohol played a part in this accident.[/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][/#000080][/font] [font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Most boaters, even though they logically know that they should not drink and boat, don't understand the enhanced effects that alcohol can have on the water. Natural stressors such as exposure to sun, glare, wind, noise, vibration, and motion on the water produces "boater’s hypnosis" or fatigue. This in itself reduces reaction time almost as much as being under the influence. Adding alcohol to these environmental stressors intensifies their effects.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Alcohol can decrease a person’s ability to handle a boat in many ways. As a depressant, alcohol goes straight to the nerves, blood stream, and the brain. As recreational boaters it is hard enough to remember all the rules, regulations, boat handling techniques, etc. while lucid. A few beers to quench the thirst in a rapidly dehydrating body and the following happens:[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Eroding sense of balance [/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 3]-[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][size 3] [/size][/#000080][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Most boating deaths result from falling out of a small open boat, without a PFD, whether it capsizes or not.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Vision fades [/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 3]-[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][size 3] [/size][/#000080][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Because of the sun and reflection of light, objects on the water can be hazy and difficult to see. Color perception and peripheral vision deteriorate and at night depth perception decreases. You can imagine what happens if you can’t distinguish between the red and green markers (or worse, don't see the markers at all) or red and green lights of an oncoming vessel at night.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Coordination suffers [/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 3]-[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][size 3] [/size][/#000080][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Should a person fall into the water they may have trouble just floating, let alone grasping onto a life ring or throwable device. Add the shock of the cold water and the risk of cramping and drowning is increased significantly.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Surface blood vessels dilate [/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 3]-[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][size 3] [/size][/#000080][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]Blood vessels on the surface of the skin dilate to increase the rate of body heat loss while in the sun. If, while these vessels are dilated, you fall overboard into cold water hypothermia sets in quickly and this further reduces your decision-making abilities.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Dehydration sets in [/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 3]-[/size][/#ff0000][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080][size 3] [/size][/#000080][/font][font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]As the sun beats down and the body naturally tries to cool itself by expelling perspiration to cool the skin, the body starts to get dehydrated. Drinking alcohol while dehydrated greatly enhances the rate at which the alcohol is absorbed.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#ff0000][size 2]Judgment is impaired [/size][size 3]- [/size][/#ff0000][#000080]One of the things that drinking tends to do is to make you begin to lose your judgment. After a drink or two people tend to become relaxed and are more likely to perform dangerous acts that they might not normally do if not under the influence. Because their judgment is impaired they may not even realize they are doing something dangerous. This, combined with the other debilitating symptoms previously covered, spells disaster.[/#000080][/font]
[font "Verdana, Arial, Geneva"][#000080]One-third of all boating fatalities are alcohol related. It is illegal to operate a boat, or to permit others to do so, while under the influence of alcohol, narcotics, or barbiturates. Penalties are severe and could include fines up to $5000, imprisonment of up to one year, non-paid public service work, and mandatory substance abuse counseling. If an operator under the influence kills or seriously injures another person the penalty can be up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5000
[/#000080][/font]
[signature]

The only up side to having a beer on the water is that, when drank in moderation, primarily beer seems to keep the stomach calm. I never understood why, but when I think back to all those years of drinking while fishing, I never had an upset stomach or ever felt queezy. Now, that I am more responsible and don't carry booz on the boat, I've noticed a couple of times that i've gotton a bit of a sour stomach. Infact, I got pretty bad one time. It's ironic in a way, the thing that is most dangerous can keep your stomach at bay. I wonder if non-alchoholic beer would do the same thing?
[signature]