People taking their families out on boats to enjoy Victoria’s bays, rivers and lakes are urged to follow safety rules to stay safe on the water these school holidays.
Safe Transport Victoria’s new Boating with Kids program offers easy-to-follow safety tips to help keep kids safe on the water, these include:
Make sure children always wear lifejackets. It’s the law for children under 12 years to wear a lifejacket on most boats, even when stepping on and off a boat or PWC (jet ski).
Keep kids within arm’s reach when you’re on or near a boat. This means you’re nearby if anything goes wrong.
Keep a close eye on children when boating. Have enough adult supervision to match the number of children, their ages, and how well they can swim in open water.
It is also vital for lifejackets worn by adults and children to be fitted correctly, to prevent the lifejacket slipping off as the wearer enters the water. Lifejackets crotch straps are recommended for younger children.
Different types of lifejackets are required on different vessels and waterways – boaters must find out what lifejacket they are required to wear before going out on the water.
Learn more about lifejackets and boating with kids at Safe Transport Victoria’s website: safetransport.vic.gov.au/boating-with-kids/
