The time of year has come again when canoeing can be a pleasant and fun experience for friends and family to enjoy. One thing that we would just like to remind you of is the importance of safety during the participation in this pastime. There are many fun and relaxing places to go Canoeing in central Florida such as the Peace River, Little Manatee River, Santa Fe River and the Suwannee River. But one thing that all of these places has in common is the risk of accidents to occur if precautions are not followed. Here are a few pointers that we would like to provide you with to help keep your fun time a safe and happy time as well!

  1. ALWAYS wear a life jacket- no matter how old you are, if is imperative that you wear a life jacket because you never know when your canoe could capsize or you could get stuck under a current.
  2. Be a team player- in most (not all) cases, there are usually two or more people to a canoe. Therefore, it is imperative to communicate with your teammate regarding rhythm in paddling.
  3. Keep your eyes to the distance- just like driving, it is very important to be aware of what is going on around you at all times. You never know when a rough patch could be coming up.
  4. Keep Plenty of water with you-actively participating outside in Central Florida during this time of year could cause a bit of dehydration, so drink plenty of water and remember that you can never have “too much.”
  5. Make sure that the weight in the canoe is as even as possible.-if one side of the canoe is lop-sided, it may increase your chances of capsizing. So, it is smart; if you are running a two-person canoe team, to try to have two people with close to similar body weight.
  6. And…Last but certainly not least, wear PLENTY of sunscreen! The UVA and UVB rays are quite terrorizing if not protected by plenty of sunscreen (SPF 50 + waterproof is ideal)…it wouldn’t be a bad idea to wear a hat either!

Tips from your friends at the Brooks Law Group. Have a safe and pleasant canoeing experience!

Stephen K. Brooks
Author: Stephen K. Brooks

Steve was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. As was the practice for new doctors his father worked day and night during his medical residency at Charity Hospital there. Steve comes from a long line of doctors. His father, his grandfather, his great grandfather, even two uncles were all specialists and/or surgeons in their chosen medical specialties, including internal medicine specialist, obstetrics / gynecology, neurosurgery and general practice / surgery. His great-great grandfather was the Surgeon General of Ohio during the Civil War.