Fallen Water Skiers: How Can Propeller Strike Accidents Be Avoided?
Many serious accidents can occur when you're boating. People can fall overboard in cold water and experience hypothermia, have a medical emergency onboard, or even end up being struck by a propeller.
This kind of injury is severe and can even be deadly. So, an important question to consider before heading out for a day of waterskiing or swimming beside your boat is, "How can propeller strike accidents be avoided?"
The goal is to ensure that your boat's propeller doesn't come into contact with anything except the water. That reduces the risk of a propeller strike to people and animals in the area and keeps your propeller from sustaining damage. Here's what to know about the risk of propeller strikes and the best ways to prevent them.
What is a Propeller Strike?
A propeller strike occurs when a boat's propeller comes into contact with a person, animal, or object in the water. This can happen if you're boating in an area where people are swimming or water skiing if someone falls overboard, or if you run aground or strike a marine animal.
A propeller strike can be catastrophic to anyone in the water and your boat, so it's important to understand and avoid the risks.
Understanding the Risks
Propellers are extremely dangerous, and boat propeller injuries can result in the loss of limbs, significant bodily harm, and even fatalities.
When water skiers are near your boat, you need to be extra careful. The propeller strike risk increases when water skiers fall and are near your vessel or in its path.
Staying aware, particularly in crowded areas with many recreational boaters, is one of the best ways to protect people from your boat's propeller and reduce boating accidents.
How to Prevent Propeller Strikes
While accidents can still happen and may not always be avoidable, you can significantly reduce the risk by paying close attention to your surroundings. Here are some specific prevention tips to keep in mind.
1. Have a Designated Observer On Board
You should always have a designated observer on your boat who can watch your skier and communicate with you (or whoever is driving). This person helps ensure a quick and safe response to falls.
2. Make Slow and Controlled Maneuvers
When you notice a fall, reduce your speed immediately. Then, slowly approach the skier and ensure you're at an angle where you can always see them.
Losing sight of the skier could put them at risk of being struck by your boat or its propeller.
3. Turn Off Your Engine
When you bring your boat close to the skier, turn off your engine completely. That way, the propeller isn't spinning, minimizing their risk.
You should also avoid putting the boat into reverse unless it's absolutely necessary since that can increase the risk of a propeller strike.
4. Use Safety Equipment
A propeller guard is an excellent way to reduce injury risks and protect water skiers and others in the water near your boat. You can also install an engine cutoff switch lanyard, which will shut off the engine if the boat's driver leaves the controls.
Proper safety equipment on your boat protects skiers and passengers and reduces boating accidents.
5. Use Good Awareness and Navigation
Do your best to keep your boat a safe distance away from other boats, swimmers, and obstacles. By staying vigilant about skiers, tubers, and swimmers nearby, you can protect them and help everyone have a better and more enjoyable time on or in the water.
Safety Practices for Skiers to Avoid Boat Propeller Injuries
Boaters aren't the only ones who need to pay close attention to avoid boat propeller injuries. Skiers also need to know the location of boats, other skiers, swimmers, and obstacles.
If you're a water skier, wear a brightly colored life jacket to increase visibility and understand hand signals used to communicate with boat drivers and designated observers.
Training and Education
Boater safety courses are an excellent way to learn more about protecting water skiers and others while on the water. We recommend that all boaters complete safety courses that include this guidance.
If you're operating a boat, you should also take the time to educate your passengers. Everyone on board must know how to respond if a skier falls into the water.
Be Prepared for Emergencies
Avoiding boating propeller accidents is the goal, but you should also be prepared to act fast if a strike occurs. For example, always carry first aid and other safety supplies on your boat. These items can help you handle emergencies that include boat propeller injuries.
Knowing emergency protocols also matters; you should know how to alert local authorities or medical personnel as quickly as possible. Since a propeller injury can be significant, the injured person will need treatment fast.
A fallen water skier struck by your boat's propeller should be treated immediately with the first aid supplies you have while medical personnel are contacted and on their way to you.
Learn More About Boating (and Waterskiing) Safely With Boater Education
Boating propeller accidents are a risk when boating, but there's much more to learn to stay safe on the water. The best way to learn about boating safely is to take a boater education course!
BOATER-exam online courses teach you everything you need to know to boat safely and legally in the U.S. and Canada. You'll learn important information on protecting fallen water skiers, navigating waterways, keeping your boat safe, and enjoying your time on the water.
Get a head start on the boating season by taking your course and getting your boater education card. When boating in the U.S., choose the course for your state. Boaters in Canada can take our course for Canadians! It's approved by Transport Canada and helps you get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC).
