Drill Instructor

Are you willing to do the work to be safe?

- Bob Arrington

When most boaters free their lines and head for open water, they do so in a mild state of denial, an innocent but dangerous unwillingness to admit something could go wrong. They are understandably more focused on the day’s adventure.

You may think you’re heading out as a safe boater. After all, you carry the required emergency equipment. But having it and being prepared to use it are two very different things. People who work in a capacity where the unexpected can occur—from first-grade teachers to flight attendants—conduct safety drills and rehearse emergency procedures. And they practice them regularly, so the response behavior becomes second nature. That’s a routine boat owners should emulate. Aboard your boat, you are not just the host responsible to show friends a fun day on the water; you are also the emergency personnel.