BOATING AND WATER SAFETY

LESSON PLAN

Introduction:

Good morning everyone, my name is (Instructors Name). I’m with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or (other organization). I'm here with the American Red Cross Safety City Program (or other organization) to share with you the importance of Boating and Water Safety. Today I have brought a very special friend with me. He’s a little Safety Boat and his name is Coastie. He loves children and he is the smartest little boat in the whole wide world. Today Coastie will help me share with you some of the Boating and Water Safety rules you should all know. Coastie, come on out and meet all these wonderful children from (school or organization name). Coastie comes out playing the Coast Guard marching song "SEMPER PARATUS" and introduces himself and tells the children that we are going to learn 6 different rules about Boating and Water Safety.

If the area is not large enough for Coastie to March out, we have Coastie taking a nap. We have the children on the count of three yell, "Wake up Coastie!" Coastie awakens from his nap bating his eye lids and acting surprised that all these children are present. He says, "Hi Kids, my name is, Coastie The Safety Boat!"

Throughout the presentation Coastie and the instructor interact and team-teach Coastie's six safety rules. We maintain the children’s attention by getting them involved right away. We have the children sing Happy Birthday to Coastie, as it’s always Coastie's birthday. We also have them help Coastie say his ABCs if time permits. Coastie does funny little antics that keep the kids smiling and laughing at the same time he shares the educational boating and water safety information along with the instructor. But most of all, Coastie maintains their attention so they don’t forget what they have learned. The presentation can run from 30-40 minutes depending on the overall Safety City program schedule.

We use the rotating beacon to maintain order and tell the children that when they see the beacon on they must be very quiet and listen to the Instructor. We also tell them to pay close attention and if Coastie falls asleep yell wake up Coastie. This keeps them focused on Coastie and the presentation.

OK KIDS! HERE IS COASTIE’S FIRST RULE.

INSTRUCTOR: COASTIE, WHAT IS YOUR FIRST RULE?

COASTIE:

DON’T JUST PACK IT WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET!

INSTRUCTOR:

WHAT DO MOMS, DADS, AND CHILDREN USE TO HELP THEM STAY AFLOAT IN THE WATER?

THAT’S RIGHT! A LIFE JACKET!

QUESTION: Why is it always important to wear your life jacket when you go on a boat?

ANSWER: (In case the boat tips over or you just fall into the water)

Can you imagine what it would be like to try to put on a life jacket in a river or lake? What if you fall out of your boat and cannot reach your life jacket? It is always much safer to wear your life jacket all the time. Life jackets are like seat belts! We always wear our seat belt when we are in the car for safety! When we are boating we should always wear our life jacket.

COASTIE: REMEMBER KIDS! LIFE JACKETS FLOAT BUT YOU DON’T!

Note: The children participate by trying on life jackets and seeing the importance of why they should fit correctly. We have a little competition with three children seeing how fast they can put them on to emphasize that having them on in the first place is the best thing to do. This form of participation can be established locally in any fashion you would choose, as long as the point of wearing PFDs and proper fit is emphasized.

OK! HERE’S COASTIE’S SECOND RULE.

COASTIE: NEVER RIDE ON THE BOW OF A BOAT CAUSE YOU MIGHT FALL IN AND YOU MAY NOT FLOAT!

INSTRUCTOR:

QUESTION: WHY SHOULD YOU NEVER RIDE ON THE BOW OF A BOAT?

Some boats are not designed with seats in the bow and if there are no seats then we should never ride on the bow of a boat. Pontoon boats are especially dangerous because of their design.

If you ride on the bow, and the boat hits a large wave, you might fall in the water and the boat could run over you. It is much safer to ride in the back where the seats are, and always be safe by wearing your life jacket.

Also remember never stand up in a small boat as they can easily be rocked by waves and you might fall out! Remember to stay seated and you’ll be much safer because you should,

COASTIE: "Always Wear Your Life Jacket When You Go boating!"

OK! LET’S MOVE ON TO COASTIES THIRD RULE.

INSTRUCTOR:

QUESTION: WHY SHOULDN’T WE JUMP IN AFTER SOMEBODY WHO FALLS IN THE WATER?

COASTIE, WHAT’S THE RULE WE NEED TO REMEMBER?

COASTIE: IF SOMEONE FALLS IN, AND THEY CAN’T SWIM, REACH OR THROW BUT NEVER GO IN!

QUESTION: WHAT COULD YOU DO TO HELP THEM?

When someone falls in the water and they can’t swim they might panic. Even though you might be able to swim, it’s safer if you stay on the boat or shore and reach or throw something to them. There are many things you could reach or throw them, like a beach ball, life jacket, cooler, boat hook, stick or rope. Anything that might float or they could reach for to hold on to. Don’t forget to always call or send for help! Call 911 if you can! If you cannot, have someone else call 911!

NOTE: Children participate in this exercise by reaching a stick or anything that they can reach out with. They also throw floating objects to another student who is the simulated victim. By showing various items that can be thrown or reached out to a victim is educational in itself. They have a great deal of fun doing this and it may save more than one life someday.

OK! HERE’S COASTIE’S FOURTH RULE.

INSTRUCTOR:

COASTIE, WHAT’S THE FOURTH RULE WE NEED TO REMEMBER?

COASTIE: ALWAYS SWIM WITH A BUDDY IN A SUPERVISED AREA!

INSTRUCTOR:

THAT’S RIGHT!

NEVER SWIM ALONE! IF YOU WERE TO GET INTO TROUBLE AND NEEDED HELP THERE WOULD BE NO ONE THERE TO HELP YOU.

Swimming alone is not safe and we should always swim in a supervised area! Does anyone know what that means? Who would be a good supervisor when we go swimming in the lake or off the boat or at the swimming pool?

You are right! Lifeguard, Mom, Dad, any adult, who is present, they would be the right people to supervise you while swimming!

Why should we swim with a buddy? That’s correct so you can look after each other.

We emphasize the need to never swim without supervision and when they are swimming to swim with a buddy so if they get in trouble their buddy can call for help.

OK! COASTIE HOW ABOUT THE FIFTH RULE.

INSTRUCTOR:

COASTIE, WHAT’S THE FIFTH RULE WE NEED TO REMEMBER?

COASTIE: LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!

INSTRUCTOR:

QUESTION: WHY SHOULDN’T WE LEAP INTO THE LAKE FROM A BOAT OR ROCKY LEDGE TO GO SWIMMING?

In a lake we do not know what is under the surface of the water. There could be rocks or tree stumps, so leaping into a lake off a boat or rocky ledge is not a very safe thing to do. You should carefully enter the water and learn what is there so you do not become injured.

OK! HERE’S OUR FINAL RULE, COASTIE’S SIXTH RULE.

INSTRUCTOR:

QUESTION: THERE IS ONE IMPORTANT THING YOU SHOULD LEARN TO DO BEFORE YOU SPEND TIME AROUND THE WATER TO ALWAYS HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT THAT IS?

COASTIE: I KNOW! I KNOW! WE SHOULD ALL LEARN TO SWIM!

INSTRUCTOR:

COASTIE, WHY IS THIS RULE SO IMPORTANT?

COASTIE:

BY LEARNING TO SWIM, YOU WON’T GET INTO TROUBLE IN DEEP WATER. YOU CAN HAVE MORE FUN BY LEARNING TO SWIM AND BE SAFE AROUND THE WATER!

INSTRUCTOR:

Swimming lessons can be great fun! There are many organizations that teach swimming lessons like community pools and the Red Cross. Remember to tell Mom and Dad that Coastie said you should take swimming lessons before you go boating or swimming at a pool or a lake, make summertime safe and lots of fun!

COASTIE:

I HAVE TWO MORE VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES I WANT TO COVER!

INSTRUCTOR:

WHAT’S THAT COASTIE?

COASTIE: Pollution is something that we all should be concerned about!

COASTIE: We should never throw any trash, or pump waste, or bilge water overboard! Always take trash to a proper trash receptacle.

INSTRUCTOR:

THE INSTRUCTOR ASKS COASTIE WHAT BILGE WATER IS COASTIE SHOWS THEM BY PUMPING HIS BILGE WATER INTO A PAN.

THE INSTRUCTOR EMPHASIS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT POLLUTING OR RIVERS, LAKES, AND OCEANS. WHEN COASTIE PUMPS HIS BILGE THE KIDS THINK THIS IS VERY FUNNY, ALTHOUGH IT BRINGS THE MESSAGE TO A VISUAL EMPHASIS.

COASTIE: Let’s all team together to keep our waterways clean and beautiful!

Note: Not all Coasties are equipped with bilge pump systems.

COASTIE: Let’s all team together to keep our waterways clean and beautiful!

ICE SAFETY

Note: Another very important issue to address is ice safety on lakes, rivers, ponds and streams. This should take place during winter education presentations and can be designed for local use. The key issue is keeping the children off the ice and sharing the DANGER!

COASTIE:

Oh! and one more thing! Tell Dad and Mom to take a Safe Boating Course so our waterways will be a safe place for families like yours to have fun! Show them the phone numbers on the back of my trading card I gave you. They can call any of those numbers and sign up for a Safe Boating Course.

(The children receive the Coastie Trading Card with a special message to the children.)

COASTIE: REMEMBER MY PERSONAL MESSAGE!

Remember kids! "Always Wear Your Life Jacket" when YOU GO boating and always be safe around the water!

Note: Message may change depending on card No. and update.

(THE CHILDREN ALSO RECEIVE A COLORING BOOK FROM THE USCGA OR CORPS. OF ENGINEERS ON BOATING AND WATER SAFETY)

INSTRUCTOR:

Let’s review what we learned today!

Coastie, would you go over the rules we learned today! And kids, would you please help Coastie!

Coastie: Ok kids. on three, LET’S say the rules

together! 1 2 3!

1. (DON’T JUST PACK IT! WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET!)

2. (NEVER RIDE ON THE BOW OF A BOAT CAUSE YOU MIGHT FALL IN AND YOU MAY NOT FLOAT)

3. (IF SOMEONE FALLS IN, AND THEY CAN’T SWIM, REACH OR THROW BUT NEVER GO IN)

4. (ALWAYS SWIM WITH A BUDDY IN A SUPERVISED AREA)

5. (LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP)

6. (LEARN TO SWIM)

Coastie:

DON’T FORGET! TELL MOM AND DAD TO TAKE A SAFE BOATING COURSE!

FROM THE INSTRUCTOR AND COASTIE:

INSTRUCTOR:

Thank you for being such a wonderful class. I hope that you enjoy the rest of your day and remember to be safe around boats and the water.

Coastie:

It doesn’t matter if you’re on a boat or at a lake or swimming pool, just remember that,

COASTIE SAYS.

"SAFETY FIRST IS THE RULE, FOLLOW IT AND YOU’LL BE COOL."

COASTIE:

PLEASE VISIT MY WEB SITE. THE ADDRESS IS ON YOUR TRADING CARD. DON’T FORGET TO TAKE THE COASTIE BOATING AND WATER SAFETY QUIZ. IT’S LOTS OF FUN!

We finish the program with the Coastie Jingle, which reinforces the safety rules with

a catchy tune that everyone loves.

Coastie:

WOULD YOU KIDS LIKE TO HEAR THE COASTIE JINGLE? OK, LISTEN FOR SOME OF THE RULES WE LEARNED TODAY!

(USE DURING WINTER MONTHS)

REMEMBER WHEN SUMMER COMES BACK, "SAFETY FIRST IS THE RULE, FOLLOW IT AND YOU’LL BE COOL!"

THANK YOU!

BYE! BYE!

This presentation is a combination of the American Red Cross Safety City Program, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Watercraft, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Youth Boating & Water Safety Programs. All three organizations share this combined information and present this basic outline for the Red Cross Safety City Programs using Coastie the Safety Boat.

Note: This presentation is a guideline for your use. This lesson plan can be modified to meet your local needs although for national program uniformity we would like to see you remain with this plan. The plan does not need to be presented word for word and once you have presented a few times it becomes very easy.

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