Going on a boating trip for fishing or for traveling to another location is a fun experience for everyone, from kids to even the elderly. While boating can also be enjoyed by women that are pregnant, there are several precautions that should be kept in mind to have a safer trip. Since being pregnant can often cause sensitivities to the body, boating in the normal way cannot be applied to her, so there are exclusive steps that needed to be followed not only by her but also the captain or the helmsman of the boat. Here are some of the important boat safety tips for pregnant women.
Always Stay Hydrated
During the warmer seasons, it is essential for pregnant women to stay hydrated, as their body needs to recuperate the amount of water that they lose during the middle of the trip. Most beginners in boating would often say that getting drinker water in a boating trip shouldn’t be a problem since they are surrounded by a body of water. However, what most of them don’t realize is that the water found around the boat cannot be used for drinking since it may contain bacteria that can cause complications to our health. So, those that are going on a boating trip should bring at least three water jugs, and these jugs could last at least one day depending on how many you are on the boat.
Check Your Sense of Balance
Your sense of balance can often be affected while you are pregnant, especially when you are in your 2nd or 3rd trimester. So, while you are on a boat, it would be quite difficult to keep your balance since the boat is constantly moving and would often rock back and forth depending on the flow of the water. Keeping your balance checked is easy if you are experienced in boating, but it would still be safer to just sit more at the center and avoid going near the bow or the ledges of the boat. If ever you are going to move, try to move a little bit slow so that you can keep your balance better. If you are the captain of the boat or the one that controls it, you should always keep your hands on the helm or the wheel and stand straight to avoid swaying your body.
Wear a Life Jacket
Even if you know or learned how to swim, it is essential that you should always wear a life jacket in cases where you have no choice but to abandon the ship or leave the boat. The life jacket would allow you to float on the water even if you are not paddling your feet to maintain balance, so there would be little to no effort for you to float. In addition, despite knowing how to swim, pregnancy could often bring you to unfamiliar experiences, such as having added weight or losing your sense of balance on the water. So, the same swimming mechanics that you learned in the past cannot be done if you are pregnant. Be sure that your life jacket is just the right size so that it won’t squeeze your body, or it won’t be too big that it may slip right off while on the water.
Don’t Travel Too Far from Land
Traveling too far from land can be dangerous for pregnant women, especially if they are in their 3rd trimester, which is the period in their pregnancy where they are close to giving birth. So, if you are pregnant, always make sure that you don’t get too far from land, as you want hospitals or clinics to be as accessible as possible if ever you experience complications with your pregnancy. During boating trips, the boat shouldn’t stray too far from shore, so going to a distant location is not recommended. Fishing or going to a nearby dock is still acceptable, but make sure that the area you are visiting has at least a clinic.
Bring a First-Aid Kit
While this tip applies to anyone that will go on a boating trip, it is especially more important to follow if you are pregnant or if you have someone on the boat that is. Always bring a first-aid kit in case of an emergency that someone gets wounded during the trip, which can often happen when fishing. Make sure that the small first aid kit contains gauze pads, a bottle of alcohol, bandages, pain medications, and antiseptic cream. These items would be effective as remedies for any kinds of minor wounds, but for major wounds like punctures or deep cuts, it would be best to bring the wounded to a nearby hospital.
Be Ready for Morning Sickness
Morning sickness is common for pregnant women that are in their 1st and 2nd trimester, and this sickness can often be amplified if they are on a boat that is constantly moving or rocking. If you are pregnant, you should always be ready for morning sickness, as you don’t know when you might feel sick during the trip. Always bring a sick bag with you while boating and sit or lie down more to prevent severe motion sickness.
Being prepared is the key to a safer trip, and preparing for any disaster or problems would allow boaters to have a more enjoyable experience since they don’t have to worry about complications on the boat. As such, the tips provided above should be followed by every pregnant woman for them to be safer during the boating trip.