Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P on Florida, Boating and Wildlife

Some people head to Florida to catch a glimpse of the state's spectacular bird populations. Pelicans, flamingos and other colorful birds are easy to spot, and they sometimes prove irresistible to tourists. Other people choose to search for rare turtles, tasty fish or creepy alligators that lurk near the shore. While all of these sights may be easy to see from a boat in Florida, Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, urges people to use caution on these sightseeing tours. Both humans and animals can be injured after just a few moments of inattention.

According to Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, many people try to operate boats close to the shore so they can capture good pictures of the animals residing on the shore. This can be a terrible decision for a few reasons. For starters, according to Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, many boats can run aground in these conditions and the lurching caused by a suddenly stopped boat could cause people to fall or otherwise become injured. In addition, many birds use sensitive marshes in order to lay their eggs and raise their young. Churning through these areas could cause massive destruction that could be disastrous for these animals.

Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, also says that operating a boat at high speeds near the shoreline can cause large waves of water to hit the shore and those waves can drag huge amounts of soil back to sea. This sort of erosion isn't needed and can be avoided. Backing a boat into a riverbank can also cause erosion, Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, says, so people should use approved docks and boat ramps instead.

By paying attention to wildlife and operating boats in a safe manner, Captain Joshua M. Kerrigan, EMT-P, says that both people and animals can stay safe and everyone can enjoy their time on the water. 

Joshua Kerrigan Discusses Water Safety

Joshua Kerrigan on Water Safety

Joshua Kerrigan lives in Florida, and like many Florida residents, he is quite comfortable around water. He learned to swim at an early age, and he worked as a lifeguard for eight years. Joshua Kerrigan also provided lifeguard instruction for five years, teaching other people how to protect swimmers and step in during an emergency. Joshua Kerrigan is also a talented sailor, who has captained boats large and small. He now works for a prominent marina in Florida. Given this extensive experience, it makes sense that Joshua Kerrigan would have strong opinions about water safety.

Joshua Kerrigan encourages everyone to learn how to swim. People who don't know how to swim put themselves in extreme danger when they spend time around water of any sort. Tides can turn and sweep them away. The edge of a pool could be slick and cause them to fall into the water. Without the ability to swim, people are at the mercy of the water and they must count on others to rescue them. Learning how to swim could help these people protect themselves, Joshua Kerrigan says.

People who can swim are often reluctant to wear lifejackets when they're on boats. Joshua Kerrigan has seen this behavior on his marina, and he's been known to remind people to put their jackets on so they can stay safe. An emergency on the water can happen without any notice whatsoever, and without a lifejacket, people could be swept away. Lifeguards like Joshua Kerrigan aren't always available to make dramatic rescues at sea, so self-protection is incredibly important. Joshua Kerrigan also believes that people should abstain from consuming alcohol while they're aboard a boat. Alcohol can dull your reflexes and impair your judgment, making an accident much more likely. Wait until you're safely back on land before you celebrate with a drink, Joshua Kerrigan says.

Children need extra protection around the water, according to Joshua Kerrigan. Small children can drown in just a few inches of water, so it pays to be on the lookout for hazards at all times. Parents can enroll their children in swimming courses to help them learn, and they should keep children in flotation devices until the kids are skilled swimmers, but these steps are no replacement for supervision, Joshua Kerrigan says.