Skippers urged to be safe and take 30 Second Challenge

In an emergency on the water 30 seconds could be all the time skippers and passengers have to grab life-saving safety equipment.

The Department of Transport (DoT) wants those heading out on the water this summer to be prepared and is advocating skippers and passengers take the 30 Second Challenge which tests readiness for an emergency response on board a vessel.

DoT Manager of Safety Education Laurie Adams said safety gear needs to be well maintained and easily accessible if it is to be effective in an emergency situation.

"There were 13 recreational boating fatalities recorded in WA in the 2016/2017 financial year - a record high and triple the recent annual average of four deaths," Mr Adams said.

"This initiative, which tests if people can gather flares, EPIRB, make a radio call and don a lifejacket in 30 seconds, responds to the detailed analysis of incident data which showed that better maintenance of safety gear and improved accessibility could have limited the number of tragedies last year.

"In the lead up to the boating season we want skippers and those who go boating to take the challenge and test their readiness in an emergency. Hopefully people who do so will learn from the exercise and make changes if required.

"The importance of safety gear can never be overstated - tragically eight of the 13 deaths (62 per cent) on WA waters last year may have been prevented if the person had been wearing a lifejacket when they entered the water."

People can visit www.transport.wa.gov.au/30secondchallenge to find out how to take the challenge then like MarineSafetyWA on Facebook to upload it.

DoT will be challenging skippers to take the 30 Second Challenge and get safe boating advice at the following times and locations:

• 20 Nov 2017: Ocean Reef Boat Harbour, 7:30 - 9:30 am
• 21 Nov 2017: Woodman Point Boat Ramp, 7:30 - 9:30 am
• 22 Nov 2017: Hillarys Boat Harbour, 7:30 - 9:30 am
• 22 Nov 2017: Point Peron Boat Harbour, 8 - 10 am
• 23 Nov 2017: Two Rocks Boat Harbour, 8 - 10am
• 23 Nov 2017: Mandurah - Port Bouvard, 8 - 10am
• 24 Nov 2017: Hillarys Boat Harbour, 7:30 - 9:30 am
• 24 Nov 2017: Woodman Point Boat Ramp, 7:30 - 9:30 am

Media contact: media@transport.wa.gov.au