After months of freezing temperatures and snowstorms, it’s no surprise that many people, especially here in New Hampshire, look forward to celebrating summer’s warm weather. Inviting friends and family over can be the perfect way to welcome summer, whether at a gathering at your lake house, or at a backyard pool party, but it’s important to take summer safety precautions in order to limit risks while maximizing your fun in the sun.
According to Independent Agent Magazine, more than 43 percent of respondents to a 2010 national survey, which represent 98.6 million U.S. households, said they plan to host a party or social gathering over the summer. Among this selection, 32 percent, or 32.1 million households, confirmed that their party will be held around water, whether in a pool, at the beach, in a boat, or on a lake.
These summer parties often provide fun for guests of all ages, but before you uncover your pool for the season or test the waters on your new jet ski, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the following summer safety tips provided by IA Magazine to limit your risks and liability issues.
Pool Safety Tips
Fence it in – Ensure that your pool is fenced in your yard, abiding by your state and local ordinances for fence height requirements. As a pool owner, you are liable for anyone who enters your property and uses your pool—even accidentally—so it’s important to install a fence with a locked gate to help prevent these unwanted incidents.- Supervision – Children should never be allowed to swim alone, and safety equipment, including life rings, floats, lines and a first aid kit, should be kept in plain view of all swimmers.
- Certification – Drowning is the leading cause of death among children under age 5. Take a safety course, or have a family member take the course to become Red Cross certified to ensure that you will be prepared in the unfortunate event of an emergency.
- Maintenance – Before the first swimmer of the season dives in, you should check your pool’s edges to make sure that no tile, concrete, or other material has come loose. Since sun and other elements can wear down these materials, it’s crucial to ensure that no damage has occurred that could pose a hazard to guests who step on them. Swimmers should be instructed never to run alongside the pool, and you should always use a non-slip, quick-drying material on walkways and other areas surrounding the pool to prevent injuries.
- Talk to your insurance agent – If you install a backyard pool, it’s important to tell your insurance agent. Since some homeowners insurance policies exclude pools, additional coverage may be required, and it’s imperative to ensure that you have adequate liability insurance in the unfortunate event of an accident in your pool.
Boat Safety
- Be aware – Nine boating-related deaths occurred in just two weeks last month in the Mid-Atlantic. Among the incidents was the capsizing of a pleasure craft, as well as the collision of a speedboat into a seawall that took the lives of two people. In light of these tragic accidents, the Coast Guard is urging boaters to keep boat safety in mind before setting sail.
Realize your risks – A standard homeowners insurance policy is not designed to cover significant watercraft exposures, so boat owners should contact their insurance agents to determine whether additional coverage can be added, or a separate RV Insurance policy is needed to fully cover damage to the boat, liability issues, and uninsured boaters.- Don’t get lost at sea –Your boat should always be equipped with fully operational boat safety equipment onboard. At a minimum, this includes life preservers for all occupants, a first aid kit, flashlight, two-way VHF radio, fire extinguisher, flare kit, and local area water chart. Larger boats should contain additional lines of varied size, as well as an inflatable lifeboat.
- There isn’t always room for one more –Never exceed the maximum passenger capacity recommended by the manufacturer.
- Save the instructions – Always keep all owners’ manuals onboard.
- Get smart – Enroll in a boat safety course, which are sponsored in many communities by the U.S. Power Squadron or the U.S. Coast Guard.
- Rental risks – Understand that there may be no coverage for rented boats, even with a watercraft policy.
- Above the influence –Never operate any vehicle, including a boat, while under the influence of alcohol or prescription drugs.
Jet Ski Safety
- Limit your liability – Jet skis may seem like fun toys, but they can actually be dangerous vehicles that require separate RV Insurance policies. As a jet ski owner, it’s crucial that you talk to your independent insurance agent to ensure that you have adequate coverage, especially if you regularly ride tandem or if you injure others in an accident.
- No kids allowed – For safety purposes, children should never be given permission to ride a jet ski.
- Inclement weather – Jet skis should never be used in bad weather, and anyone driving the vehicle should know exactly how to operate it and shut it off when necessary.
- Transportation troubles – It’s important to understand the risks in storing and transporting your jet ski. Standard homeowners insurance and auto insurance policies will not cover the theft of the jet ski from a trailer.
- Rental risks – Like rented boats, you should use caution when renting a jet ski. Always consult your insurance agent to ensure that you understand your liability exposure and coverage when renting.
Let us help keep you safe this summer. For more information and summer safety tips, please subscribe to our blog or contact us.
To request a free boat insurance quote, please call us at 603-882-2766 or submit our Online Insurance Quote Request Form.
Top pool photo courtesy of Worakit Sirijinda.