Safety should be a central focus every time you head out on the water, and that’s certainly true for paddlesports of all types.

Whether your paddle craft is your main way to get on the water or a fun toy to enjoy once your cruising boat is swinging on the hook in a picturesque Pacific Northwest cove, preparing for a paddling excursion isn’t just about grabbing a paddle and some sunscreen. The essential safety practices that go along with paddlesports could someday save your life.

From July 22-28, the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program is supporting Paddle Safe Week, a statewide effort to create a culture of safety around paddle sports. The campaign recognizes that paddlesports, while a fun way to spend the summer outside, are not without risk.

Washington’s diverse waterways require different skills, preparation, and safety equipment. During Paddle Safe Week, paddlers are asked to take a moment to review safety tips, and encourage others in your community to do the same!

The single, most important way to paddle safely is to always wear a life jacket on the water.

State law requires all vessels, including canoes, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards to have at least one properly fitted Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board. Participants under the age of 12 are required to wear the life jacket at all times, but paddlers of all ages—even those with strong swimming skills—are encouraged to wear a life jacket due to the unpredictable nature of the sport.

The program also recommends the following safety practices:

• Get Educated – Find classes through local clubs and outfitters, city and county parks and recreation departments, and online.
• Know and Use Proper Equipment – For stand-up paddleboarding, leash recommendations change depending on the type of water you paddleboard on. Make sure you are correctly using the proper leash type for your adventure.
• Carry Essential Gear – Carry the essentials for safety, emergency communications and comfort.
• Check and Understand the Weather – Check the weather frequently before and during each trip, keeping an eye on current conditions and forecasts.
• Protect Against Cold Water Shock – Avoid the biggest risk, which is not hypothermia but cold-water shock. Cold water shock occurs in the first stage of immersion (from an unplanned fall overboard). Be prepared. Wear a life jacket.
• File a Float Plan – Before heading out, study the intended route, and let someone know the plan.
• Paddle with a Group – Go out with at least three people and stay close enough for visual or verbal contact.
• Avoid Alcohol and Drugs – Stay alert and maintain situational awareness. These are key for safety on the water.
• Learn how to self-rescue – Know how to get back in or on the craft. Paddlecraft are typically safe, but there’s a higher risk of going overboard and becoming a swimmer.
• Label your Paddlecraft – Use a sticker or some other means to provide contact information for privately owned paddlecraft. When empty paddlecraft are found adrift, it’s assumed someone is in danger.
• Be Visible to Other Boaters – Paddle to be seen. Wear bright neon and contrasting colors, put highly reflective tape on paddles, use a flagpole and carry a bright light.

To find more information, check out the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program’s collection of free digital safety resources and information for paddlers.

Be A Voice for Boating Safety

Help spread the word by sharing safety tips with your community. The Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program maintains a library of resources and social media content for participants to share. Through repeated exposure to safety messaging, we can promote boating safety practices with the intention of reducing fatal boating incidents in the state.

Want to help shape the future of paddlesports safety campaigns? The program is also running a survey, which is open to all Washington residents, to better understand the safety habits of recreators while out on the water. The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete, and the data will help inform education and safety efforts by the program in years to come.

About the Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program

The Washington State Parks Recreational Boating Safety Program administers several programs to keep boaters safe and informed of applicable regulations. In addition to Recreational Boating Safety, the Boating Program trains and certifies Marine Law Enforcement programs across the state and administers the Clean Vessel Act to fund pumpout stations that keep Washington waters clean.

About Washington State Parks

State Parks was founded in 1913, making it older than the National Parks system. We operate 124 developed parks, 1,300 miles of trails, more than 6,000 campsites and over 2,700 facilities – including more than 800 historic buildings. Despite managing the fewest number of acres of any state-managed lands agency, our 120,000 acres see the most visitors. More than 40 million people visit each year, including 39 million day-use visitors and 2.3 million overnight visitors. We offer a variety of recreation opportunities and provide stewardship protection for a diverse array of natural, cultural and historic resources. Our statewide programs include long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation.

parks.state.wa.us

Title background photo by Joe Cline.