With the 4th of July just around the corner, most everyone who has jet skis are going to be out on Lake Texoma. As much fun as jet skis are, they can also be very dangerous and potentially deadly.
According to Jetdrift.com, between the years of 2004 and 2018, there were over 670 total and more than 600 reported injuries from jet ski crashes. That is an average of 48 deaths and 45 injuries per year.
That is why it’s crucial to be safe and knowledgeable when it comes to riding jet skis. These helpful tips will benefit all jet ski riders and possibly could prevent them from an injury or death.
The first and most important tip is to wear a life jacket. Life jackets might be uncomfortable and bulky but they are crucial to saving lives. While it is not required by law to wear a life jacket for somebody over the age of 13, they should still wear the life jacket.
According to WaterSafetyUSA.org, 84 percent of boat/jet ski accident deaths did not have a life jacket on. A study from the University of Portsmouth in 2018 concluded an average of 180 lives are saved yearly because of wearing a life jacket. With these statistics, who wouldn’t want to be on the life saving side?
The second tip is to be aware of the surroundings. A rider can be the safest rider possible, but that doesn't mean someone else won’t cause an accident. According to the National US Coast Guard, the number one reason for boating/jet ski accidents is operator inattention.
Watch the patterns of boats around in the area and act accordingly to their patterns. If a rider notices a boat coming towards them and the boat is not slowing down, drive away from them to avoid getting hurt.
It’s also important to be aware of choppy water, rocks, sticks, and even grass when on a jet ski. Choppy waves could throw the rider off the jet ski if the rider does not notice in time for quick action. Rocks and sticks could damage the jet ski and be dangerous to run over. Running over grass in a jet ski could cause the grass to be sucked up and break the engine in a jet ski. Awareness is key when it comes to your safety and others.
The third and final tip is to learn hand signals. These signals may seem unimportant, but they could potentially save the rider from a bad situation. They also direct traffic and show other boaters what the rider’s intentions are.
A flat open hand is the universal signal for stopping completely, a thumbs down is the meaning for slowing down, and a thumbs up is the meaning for speeding up. Holding the arm and extending the hand to the left means left turn, holding the arm and extending the hand to the right means right turn.
The National US Coast Guard recommends all boaters and jet skis riders to know these signals in case of an emergency. These basic signals are worth remembering because they can prevent accidents.