Boating safety starts long before you even step foot on a boat. Make sure you have all of the necessary supplies and equipment in case of an emergency or change in plans. Check that you have enough life jackets for every person who will be coming along for the ride. Make sure eachone fits snugly and that everyone understands how to properly put them on. Even before you start doing equipment checks, it’s always important to make sure that you know how to swim. It wouldn’t be wise for a person to cross large open areas of water if they are unable to swim in case of an emergency. Life jackets should only be a supplement to your own personal ability to stay afloat in the water and make your way to land.