Summer Safety In San Diego

Summer is officially upon us and as June Gloom clears, people (including my family and I) will be hitting the water! But before we do, I wanted to share some tips and precautions to help you, your family, and friends stay safe. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, drowning ranks as the number two killer of its most vulnerable victims — children. So whether your go-to water activity is boating, jet skiing, or swimming in a pool, it's important to make sure you're prepared and are aware of the rules – for example, did you know dogs are NOT permitted on boats when you go out on a San Diego City Lake? So here are some quick tips:

When fishing… Never fish alone – bring a friend! This way, you'll have someone to help if you're in trouble. Always bring safety equipment such as a life jacket or ring, and don't forget to always carry water with you.

When boating… Watch for rocks, logs, and islands. Water levels can vary several feet in the same day during low and high tides. Sometimes, bad things happen to good boats. Collisions, being damaged in a storm, and catching on fire are just a few of the things that can go wrong for sailboats. In addition to sailing safely, soberly and within your abilities, boat insurance, though not required in the state of California, is something you probably should not be without. Here are some things you should be aware of within your boat insurance policy:- Navigational area: Know where you are covered in the water. For example, an insurance company may only offer you protection up to 75 miles from the coastline.- Liability: Similar to car insurance, personal liability coverage provides coverage to other boaters and boat owners in the unfortunate event that you are at-fault for an accident on the water. This coverage will pay to repair or replace the property of someone else as well as for their medical care, lost wages and other costs incurred as a result of a boating accident for which you are at-fault.- Medical Payments – This coverage will pay for the cost of any necessary care resulting from your boating accident. The coverage amount will range from $5000 to $10,000 depending on your policy, but it covers you, your passengers, and even your water skiers/tubers, regardless of who is at-fault.

There are a lot of other items you should be aware of in your policy but we feel these are most important

Most importantly – safety and alcohol don't mix. Statistics show that drinking alcoholic beverages plays a major role in the accidents and deaths that occur in public recreational areas. While it isn't illegal to drink alcohol on a boat, it is against the law to operate a vessel while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or drugs.

So from all of us at Laureti & Associates, we hope you have a safe, fun-filled summer!