Labor Day 2011 is here. If your plans include cruising on a boat, on a bike or in a motor vehicle, remember these simple tips for staying safe.
Wear a PFD—It’s a BFD!
While near water or on a boat, one of the most important pieces of safety equipment is a life vest or personal flotation device (PFD). There are several types of PFDs appropriate for various types of fun on the water. Choose the one that’s right for your activity, then have a blast!
Use Your Head—Always Wear a Helmet
You only have one brain and it’s important to protect it. Wearing a helmet while riding a bike is an easy way to help keep the gray matter between your ears intact. The National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NTHSA) reports that a properly fitted helmet can minimize the effect of a crash by up to 88%. Hey, if a helmet will help prevent me from needing diapers again or relearning how to eat by myself, wearing one is a no brainer.
Buckle Up, Baby
Like wearing a PFD or bike helmet, wearing a seat belt just feels right to me; without it, I feel naked and I’m not into the Lady Godiva act. And since using seat belts reduces serious crash-related injuries and deaths by 50% (according to the NHTSA), why not buckle up? Babies and kids need to be properly restrained in vehicles, too. Check out the Safe Kids USA website for car seat requirements and installation instructions.
So which one of these tips will I put to use this weekend? Well, if I bike to the boat, I’ll wear my helmet. If I drive, I’ll wear my seatbelt. Since Sundown won’t be floatin’, I think I’ll skip the PFD. (People already question my sanity. Wearing a PFD while on a boat that’s sitting in a prairie dog field might leave no doubt in some of their minds.) Once aboard, however, the protective gear I won’t be without is my rubber gloves. I need to keep my dainty little hands safe from all the dirty work they’re sure to encounter.
Have a safe, fun weekend!
– krs
Sundown Sailing Adventures 
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