Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/846958
Boating Check your boat: Many people put their boats in the water without first checking motor belts and fluids, and end up having to be towed. Make sure your boat is in good working order before taking it out on a lake. Make sure all required safety equipment is on the boat and in good working order. Practice courtesy on the water: From the time you start to take the boat to the launching ramp until the time you take it out, courtesy plays a big part in the boating adventure. Be careful of your wake, both around homes and other boaters. Drive defensively: Be aware of what other boaters are doing around you. Even if you have the rightofway, if the other boater doesn't give way to your vessel, you should give way. Keep an eye out for people on personal watercra, paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, etc. Don't drink and drive a boat: Just like on the highway, drinking alcoholic beverages and operating a boat is against the law. SOURCE: ALABAMA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY - alea.gov/Home L ife Jackets To meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements, a boat must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person aboard. Boats 16 feet and longer must have at least one Type IV throwable personal flotation device as well. Adult-size life jackets will not work for children. To work correctly, a life jacket must fit snugly, and not allow the child's chin or ears to slip through. Life jackets should be tested for wear and buoyancy at least once each year. Waterlogged, faded or leaky jackets should be discarded. LIFE JACKETS MUST BE: U.S. Coast Guard-approved In good and serviceable condition e appropriate size for the user Worn by children under 8 years old while the boat is on the water Worn by anyone on a personal watercra or being towed on skis/tube Worn by anyone within 800 feet of a hydroelectric dam or navigational lock or dam. ACCESSIBILITY: Life jackets and throwable devices must be readily accessible. ey should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have gear stowed on top of them. SOURCE: U.S. COAST GUARD - uscgboating.org Safety on our lakes is a top priority for Alabama Power. To help you and your loved ones remain safe Alabama Power Shoreline Management and trusted experts have collaborated on key safety topics. We want to keep safety a priority every day on every lake. 31 www.apcshorelines.com