Lifesaving Society Water Smart Fact Sheet
www.lifesavingnl.ca
Make every trip a round trip
The Recreational Food Fishery is held annually in Newfoundland and Labrador and sees thousands of people taking to the water to fish for cod during a
few short weeks in the summer. Most are uneventful trips. Some are one
way trips.
Tips to help bring you (and
your fish!) home safely

Be prepared. Ensure your vessel has the required safety gear
on board and sufficient fuel.

Wear a PFD or lifejacket.
Make sure it fits, is buckled up
and everyone on board is wearing one. It won’t work if you
don’t wear it.
Get trained. Learn to swim and
learn how to survive an unexpected fall into the water. Get
your PCO card, it’s the law!
Download free Water Smart Fact
Sheets from www.lifesavingnl.ca

Carry a VHF radio or cell
phone with you when on the
water.



Leave a float plan. Always tell
someone where you are going
and when you will return.

Check the forecast. Return to
shore immediately if bad weather approaches.

Drive powerboats responsibly – use appropriate speed
especially when the water is
choppy.

For further information on how to enroll in
a Lifesaving Society course contact your
local pool.
PO Box 8065, Stn “A”, St. John’s, NL A1B 3M9
Tel: 709 576 1953
Fax: 709 738-1475
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.lifesavingnl.ca
Want more information?

Stay seated! You can easily
fall out of a small powerboat,canoe, or kayak.

Don’t drink and drive your
boat! Impaired driving penalties apply to driving your boat
as well as your car.
Useful things for fishers to know:


Hypothermia
PFD or lifejacket, do you
know the difference?
Boating safety guide
Anglers and Fishers
Do you have your Pleasure
Craft Operator Card?
All operators of pleasure craft fitted
with any type of motor and used for
recreational purposes must carry
proof of competency on board. Proof
of competency indicates the boater
has a basic level of boating safety
knowledge required for safe recreational boating.
Contact the Lifesaving Society to
learn how you can obtain your PCO
card or replace a lost card.