You Never Know

As a vessel examiner and instructor, I have on many occasions indicated in class and on the dock that you never really know what future impact you have on the lives of the people during a vessel exam. On the dock, we go through the safety check form and indicate what is in compliance and what is not. We offer various safety tips and if everything is in compliance we award and affix a current sticker and move on to the next vessel. However, you never know what impact you have beyond the initial inspection. Did they really take to heart your suggestion to "always wear your life jacket - it may save your life" or "to take a boater safety course?" Will they really fill the tanks and follow the 1/3 rule? Did your safety check avert a future boater mishap or worse, a fatality? You never know.

Vessel Examiner explaining Vessel Safety Check results with boat owner (Photo by Kenneth Straw)

In April, we staffed a "Safety Check" station at a local marina. As it was early in the season most of the boaters had not yet taken their craft out of storage. Having already provided four safety checks, I wanted to perform one last exam before heading home. As the last vessel approached my location from a day on the lake, I introduced myself as a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and offered to provide a vessel safety check. He said "sure," but he had to get his older brother out of the boat and to the restroom before the exam.

As he moored his boat, and during our conversation, I learned that his brother was 82 years old and was unable to walk without the aid of a walker. "He still enjoys a day out on the lake," he said. I helped him lift his brother out of the boat to the dock. He told his brother to hang on to the dock rail while he walked back to his truck to retrieve his brother’s walker. As the dock was fairly narrow, I moved off the dock to let him pass. Unfortunately after he left, his brother lost his footing and hit his head on the dock rail and then the dock as he fell backwards. I realized that his legs and buttocks were over the edge of the dock and that he was milliseconds from falling into the water. I dove on him, clutching his life jacket, preventing him from completely falling off the dock and into the water. Hearing the commotion, the younger brother ran back to the dock, jumped over us and helped get his brother back to his feet. Finally standing, thanked me for saving his life.

Vessel examiner reviewing the specifics for a Vessel Safety Check to the Boat Owner (Photo by Kenneth Straw)

 

Did I save his life? Perhaps, but I did save him from a rude dunking in cold water and potential injury. In the end, he got his brother to the rest room and returned to his boat. I completed the vessel safety check; he passed. After I affixed the sticker I thanked him for his time and he thanked me for helping his brother. What did I learn? I learned that even though it may not always be apparent, our presence on the dock providing safety checks can impact the lives of the boating public. The fact that the elderly brother was wearing his life jacket provided a significant assist in the “rescue.” You never know.

Vessel Examiner showing boat owner where to find the expiration date (Photo by Kenneth Straw)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

~MG 11-05-10