I’ve worked around water my whole life. I have captained boats for both companies and private individuals, and I like to think that my skills are quite high. I enjoy spending time on the water, and feeling the speed and power of the boat.

I also take boating safety quite seriously. I got interested in health care when I was young and I landed a job as a lifeguard. Since then, I’ve gone on to work as an EMT and a paramedic, and I’ve helped many people who’ve been injured in water-related accidents.

When it comes to water, it’s true that accidents can happen in just a single moment. You may think you have control of the situation, and suddenly you realize that the moments are slipping by and you have no idea how the problem occurred or how to stop it. In my opinion, there are a few things people can do to keep problems from ever cropping up in the first place.

For starters, boaters shouldn’t be consuming alcohol. Booze impairs your judgment and slows down your reaction times, and you need both good judgment and quick reflexes while you’re steering a boat. Additionally, I think everyone on a boat should be wearing a lifejacket. Yes, I know that they’re not always the most fashionable things you could be wearing, but if you fall into the water, you won’t care as much about fashion as you do about staying alive. Wearing a lifejacket could really be the best thing you’ll ever do on a boat.

When I am steering a boat, I always have someone nearby to scout out hazards for me. Perhaps there’s a branch underwater I can’t quite see due to the glare of the water. My spotter might see it for me, and help me move quickly to avoid the problem. I also obey the speed limits and posted signs, and I never do showoff things like jumping wakes.

I enjoy boating, and I do it quite often, but I always put safety first. Sometimes I’m a little amazed that other boaters don’t do the same. I know I could jump in and help if something went wrong on another boat, but I am seriously hoping that people will simply take heed of the dangers and change their ways. Being safe on the water is a shared responsibility, and we all must do our part.

About the Joshua: Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, worked as an EMT for 3 years and a paramedic for 2 years. He was a yacht captain for 5 years. He now works for a marina and teaches courses in lifeguard technique in his spare time.