By Marisa Dawson

With warmer weather approaching and lake season just around the corner, the Bennington Fire Department partnered with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to host a boating safety class aimed at helping community members stay safe on the water.

The six-hour class, held Saturday, March 14 at the Bennington Fire Station, covered boating laws, safety practices, and operating procedures required to legally operate a powerboat in Nebraska. Participants who pass the exam at the end of the course receive a boater education license in the mail that is valid for life.

Marie Carsey of the Coast Guard Auxiliary said the class serves both as a licensing opportunity and an important safety lesson for boaters of all experience levels. “So first of all, the people that are taking it generally are here to get their license, but they’re going to get all the laws, all the rules,” Carsey said. “And also, we really stress the safety aspect about wearing life jackets and that sort of thing, and just being careful out there and watching the weather.”

The course covers a wide range of topics including boating laws, parts of a boat, operating procedures, docking techniques, and how to handle emergency situations. Instructors also discuss recreational activities such as water skiing and other water sports.

Carsey said preparation is key before heading out on the water. “They have to think first before they go out,” she said. “They have to prepare, and they have to make sure that they’re following all the rules.” According to Carsey, boating accidents are more common than many people realize. “It’s like you think it’s just going to be a fun day, but last year, two people got killed in Nebraska,” she stressed. “There were 18 accidents. You have to bear in mind that it’s not just running around out on the lake. They also have a responsibility to be careful and watch out for other people that are out there.”

Randy Evans (pictured below), Flotilla Commander with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, said the class also helps boaters comply with Nebraska law. “Compliance, for starters,” Evans said. “If you were born after 1985… to operate a jet ski or a boat, you must take a boating safety class to operate a powerboat.”

The class typically takes about six hours to complete and introduces participants to navigation rules, safety procedures, and essential boating skills. “We teach six chapters in this class,” Evans said. “It takes six hours, give or take. And when you graduate from this class, it says that you are qualified and legal to operate a boat.”

Evans noted that many experienced boaters still learn something new from the course. “I’ve never taught a class where I haven’t learned something,” he said. “If I can learn something, people that are here should also.”

One of the most important safety messages instructors emphasize is the importance of wearing life jackets, even those who are not operating the boat. Their message to the community was simple: wearing a life jacket on any boat can save your life. “We promote that,” Evans said. “We’ll be saying that multiple times… You can’t swim when you’re unconscious.”

Statistics support that message. According to the Coast Guard Auxiliary, about 90 percent of boating accident deaths involve individuals who were not wearing life jackets, and roughly 78 percent of boating accidents involve operators who have had no boating education.

The Bennington Fire Department also sees the value in ensuring proper training for both the public and emergency responders. “I say it’s important just so everybody’s on the same page and safety wise, everybody’s up to the rules and regulations set by the state of Nebraska and the Coast Guard,” said Bennington Fire Department member Nate Johnson. “So accidents can be avoided.”

Johnson said all members of the department are required to complete the course. This ensures preparedness for potential water rescue emergencies. “So if we have to take the boat out on a lake or a river… everybody can drive the boat so we aren’t waiting for one individual to show up to drive the boat,” he added.

With several nearby lakes popular for recreation, Johnson said safe boating habits are especially important for the community- both for those operating them and riding in them. “Definitely wear your life jacket at all times,” he said. “Just like I said, all accidents, most of them can be avoided. But the ones you can’t avoid, at least people are wearing their life jackets.”

Johnson also emphasized that operating a boat under the influence is a major safety concern. “I know a lot of the lakes… are big party lakes,” he said. Ensuring soberness while operating boats and other watercraft can go a long way in preventing major wrecks and mishaps that happen. 

Beyond education courses, the Coast Guard Auxiliary also offers free vessel safety inspections and can travel to boat owners to check equipment and safety compliance. Carsey said boaters should remember that the goal of the class is simple: enjoy the water safely. “Go out and have fun, but be safe about it,” she said. “We really stress to wear your life jackets.”

Community members interested in taking a future boating safety course can find a list of upcoming classes and licensing options through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website at https://outdoornebraska.gov/parks/go-boating/boater-education/.