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Local students learn do's, don'ts of water safety |
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Friday, 25 September 2009 |
By ANGELA WEAVER
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — Some McBroom Junior High students learned about staying safe on the water — and what they can and cannot do while on a watercraft — on Friday morning.
Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft Officer Travis Martin brought one of his boats to school as part of a boat safety demonstration in Barb Hamberg’s seventh-grade classes.
“We try to do this as close to Hooked on Fishing as possible,” Hamberg told The Evening Leader.
Martin began the class by asking if any student in the class had driven a jet ski or a boat.
“This is the first class I’ve never had anyone who has driven a jet ski,” he said.
Martin gave each student a copy of the Ohio rules and regulations to take home and read with their parents. He also explained a few of the laws to them.
“Between the ages of 12 and 15, you’re allowed to drive a jet ski, but you have to have a supervisor on board,” he said. “To drive a boat — you have to have a boating license.”
Martin said Ohio residents can obtain a boating license through different ways — a boating education course that costs $5, or a home study course on the Internet for $30.
“That’s a lot less than a ticket would cost your parents,” he told the students.
“A ticket in Mercer County costs around $95 and a ticket in Auglaize County costs around $95.”
Martin said the boater education course requirement applies to any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, to power a boat or a jet ski of more than 10 horsepower. He then took the students outside to his boat and emphasized the importance of lifejackets to the students. Each one of them also chose a jacket to try on and see if it fit properly.
“Always wear a lifejacket,” he said. “If you’re not wearing it, does it work — no.”
Martin said boaters should especially wear a lifejacket in bad weather and at night.
“When you’re skiing, or tubing, you’re required to have it on,” he said.
Seventh-grade student Michael Harbaum said the lifejackets were his favorite part — he tried on a blue and yellow jacket.
“I liked all the cool life jackets,” he said.
When Martin and the students returned to Hamberg’s classroom, he sat them down to speak about alcohol and drugs.
“Alcohol is prohibited in state parks,” he said. “Don’t let anyone drink and drive when you are in a boat.”
Martin said drinking and driving on the water holds the same consequences as on land.
“The only difference is, in the state of Ohio, it doesn’t affect your driver’s license,” he said.
A few of Hamberg’s students questioned Martin on what it took to do his job.
“Be a good person — if you can do anything to help someone as an act of kindness, do it,” Martin told them. “I help thousands of people a day.”
Martin told The Evening Leader boating safety starts with the students.
“If we don’t let the kids know, they’re not going to know,” he said. “The more people that get the education course, the more people are going to be safe on the water. I’ve seen with people who have taken the course, they have less problems.”
Seventh-grade student Travis Bonifas tried on a throwable flotation device during Martin’s demonstration.
“I liked the part when he told us all about things that could happen if you weren’t protected,” Travis said of what he learned.
Hamberg said the boating safety demonstration in her classes started after two high school students from Celina drowned in Grand Lake St. Marys four years ago.
“It’s important not only to get in fishing safety, but boating safety,” she said. “These guys do a fabulous job.” |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 October 2009 )
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