Parasail Safety
From 1990 through 2009, there have been 384 parasailing accidents, with 22 of those accidents resulting in death, according to the Parasail Safety Council. Parasail safety depends on the crew and captain to educate riders on techniques and survival skills and on passengers doing research to select a trustworthy company and following the rules set by the provider.
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Passenger Safety Briefing
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Parasail safety starts with ensuring that passengers are fully briefed on safety precautions and instructions, according to the Parasail Safety Council (PSC). Instructions should be delivered in video and written form and should cover what to do if there is an accident in flight or on board the vessel, the location of life vests and other safety equipment and how to use hand signals to tell the captain that the rider wants down, according to the council. The PSC also advises that the captain and crew should check to make sure passengers were listening and absorbed the safety briefing instead of tuning out before the adventure.
Survival Skills
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In addition to an overview of basic safety training, passengers should also know essential survival techniques specific to the parasail and water in case faced with the unexpected, according to PSC. Specifically, the captain and crew should brief passengers on drowning-prevention techniques, how the parasail works, factors that could lead to an accident and how to get into the correct position for a high-speed deck landing, according to PSC's website. The council recommendations also state that the captain and crew should also allow enough time for a question-and-answer period and should prohibit passengers who seem overly nervous or intimidated about the ride.
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Weather Evaluation
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The captain has the final call on whether or not the weather is safe enough to ride, and he should not take riders during rain, fog, thunderstorms, low-pressure fronts or lightening within 15 miles, according to the PSC. Sustained winds of more than 15 knots and dangerous gusts also mean that a parasail ride is a no-go, according to the PSC website.
Towline Length
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The towline, the rope connecting the rider to the boat, should not be more than 300 feet in lakes and bays and 600 feet in oceans, according to the PSC. Likewise, companies should operate at least three times the towline from the shore, boats or other traffic, according to the PSC. For example, the PSC website explains that if 400 feet of towline is out, the company should be at least 1,200 feet away from traffic.
Safety Gear
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Parasail riders should wear helmets, a life vest and appropriate foot gear, according to Power Sail, a retailer of parasailing equipment based in Palenville, New York.
Passenger Research
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Since there are no official safety licenses or industry requirements, parasail providers may vary in their commitment to safety, according to parasailing.com. The website recommends that passengers do their homework to ensure they are riding with a reputable company. Passengers should ask how long the company has been in business and should make sure the boat's captain is a U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain, according to the website.
Age and Weight
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Passengers under 16 or over 300 pounds should not parasail, according to the PSC.
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References
- Photo Credit parasailing image by Irina Kodentseva from Fotolia.com
