Safety should be focus of summer

  • Published
  • By Maj. Rich Flamand
  • 325th Maintenance Operations Squadron commander
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Safety first and common sense always - these subjects are near and dear to most commanders' hearts; I am certainly no exception. We are now well into our 101 Critical Days of Summer, and I'd like to take a moment to illustrate the importance of water sports and sun-related safety.

There are so many fun water sports options here at Tyndall. We have boat rentals right here on base at Bonita Bay. This is a great advantage to being stationed here. Shell Island is just 20 minutes away and you can have fun for the whole family all day for a little over $100, or you can borrow a boat from a neighbor and just launch it at the marina or any public boat ramp. When it comes to equipment rentals and or purchases, though, please know the rules and get the required training. Take it seriously, because it may just save your life.

But what about the training? What about the common sense? Once you're in the bay it may feel like you can do whatever you like, but there are hazards to consider, such as: shallow water; oncoming boats; lightning fast Sea Doos; divers; snorkelers; currents; getting beached; proper anchoring methods; proper parking in congested areas; and a whole litany of other factors to consider. You can get the training for a Bonita Bay boat rental at http://www.boatus.org/onlinecourse and the check ride that follows at Bonita Bay will only take 10 minutes.

If you really want to have fun, sit back on Shell Island and watch folks trying to back their boat off the shore by just trimming the outboard motor into the shallow water and maxing the throttle into reverse creating a mess of cloudy water, mud, and sea foam because they allowed their boat to get beached. Even better, everyone should sit back sometime and watch folks coming back into a boat ramp at the end of the day. It's like watching America's funniest home videos, and unfortunately, it's an accident waiting to happen most of the time - don't be that person.

You are responsible for all passengers on board when you take a boat out. In my opinion, you shouldn't drink any alcohol at all. If you're a passenger who chooses to enjoy an adult beverage, just remember you cannot rehydrate by drinking beer alone. Consume at least 1 bottle of water throughout the day.

Wear your Personal Protective Equipment too, especially if you're the driver. This usually includes a lifejacket with a connected throttle cut-off cable. It wouldn't be a lot of fun to fall off your Sea Doo out in the Gulf, only to watch it drive away from you... and not come back. Nobody needs to help narrate an episode of "I Shouldn't Be Alive" on the Discovery Channel. If you were without your Sea Doo, you could easily drift for miles out into the Gulf, especially if you were caught in the current. Also, it never hurts to tell a friend where you're going.

If you decide to rent a Sea Doo from a private organization and head out through the 'pass' into the Gulf, you should keep some things in mind. Currents, sandbars, and swells can become significant issues. Stay within sight of the beach and enjoy the view. If you depart the Sea Doo, stay attached with a rope. It can float away from you faster than you think. If you are going to snorkel more than 30 minutes, wear a white T-shirt to reflect sun and keep your back from cooking.

Nobody is immune to the hot Florida sun, especially the kids. When you are out on the water, the sun can affect you even more. Throwing sun block with SPF 50 on your head, shoulders and legs once or twice in the day becomes necessary. Pre-act with sun block throughout the day, so you don't have to react with aloe and Motrin that night.

So with all that being said, should you go out on the water? Absolutely! Everyone should enjoy being stationed here on the Emerald Coast. Enjoy the bay, Gulf and beach as often as possible, but be smart, use common sense, get training, and wear your PPE to avoid becoming a statistic. Continue to enjoy a safe 101 Critical Days of Summer. Maybe I'll see you out there!