South Lake Tahoe Boating Incident
Lake Tahoe is known for its beautiful and majestic lake. For some, there is nothing more relaxing and freeing than a day of sailing or boating around the lake. I really enjoy the scenery and tranquil waters of Emerald Bay.
Distress Call Received By US Coast Guard
On September 20, 2016 the United States Coast Guard received a distress call at approximately 3:00 p.m. The 25-foot boat ‘Just Enough’ started taking on water and began to sink near the South Shore of South Lake Tahoe, at the Nevada/California Border.
Three People Rescued
Three people on board were rescued by the Coast Guard and taken safely to shore. A fellow boater on the vessel ‘Sundance’ assisted with towing ‘Just Enough’ to the Tahoe Keys Marina. Thankfully, everyone escaped without injury. The cause of the boat taking on water has not yet been determined.
Lake Tahoe Boating Safety Tips
This incident and many like it can be quite terrifying to all involved. We’ve put together this helpful list of safety tips should you become involved in a boating accident:
- Keep enough life jackets on board for every passenger, regardless of length of the vessel. If the vessel is over 16-feet in length, there must be a throwable device in addition to the proper number of life jackets. The throwable device must be kept where it can be easily reached should an emergency arise. Make sure multiple people on board know where the device is located.
- Keep a fire extinguisher on board. Make sure to check it regularly to be sure it is properly charged and in good working condition.Keep a sound signaling device and light on board. A whistle or air-horn could alert other boaters to your distress call in case of an emergency. If they can’t see you, they may hear you.
- Check the weather forecast before you set sail.
- Assign a person who knows how to properly and safely operate your vessel in case you are unable to do so.
- Come up with a float plan. Let someone you know that you’re going to be out on the water. Let them know where you will be at and the approximate time you will be returning to shore.
- Take advantage of the free vessel safety check offered by the United States Coast Guard. They will provide a specialist to go over important boating tips and make sure your boat is suitable for the water by examining certain safety features that are required by federal and state regulations.
- Learn to swim. Before you set sail ask all onboard if they can swim. If your vessel starts taking on water it’s wise to know ahead of time if anyone on board doesn’t know how to swim. If there is someone who doesn’t know how to swim assign them a buddy in case something happens.
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South Lake Tahoe Boat Accident and Injury Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a South Lake Tahoe Injury Lawyer. If you or a family member has been seriously hurt in an accident in South Lake Tahoe, please call me at (530) 392-9400 or (800) 404-5400 for fast, free and friendly advice.
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Source of South Lake Tahoe Boating Incident:
- http://www.laketahoenews.net/2016/09/3-safe-after-boat-begins-to-sink-at-tahoe/
- http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/
- http://www.discoverboating.com/beginner/safety/tips.aspx
Photo Attribution: Wikimedia Commons – Public Domain Images – [By Dhanyagp (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons].
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