Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and career. What is your current boating safety messaging? I believe it is time for boating educators, and all those working in the boating safety career field to stop what they are doing for a moment and review their boating safety messaging. Does it make sense? Is it meaningful?
I found myself standing in the ladies room of the Denver airport under a sort of "lock-down" due to the tornadoes that surrounded us last week. While standing in the bathroom with a bunch of women, I said, "I've never been in a tornado before, what should we do?" I live in Alaska, where we were raised on earthquake drills, duck and cover, stay away from glass etc. but I have never received training on tornadoes. One woman, in the midst of increasing stress levels, looks deep into my soul and says "BE PREPARED."
At that moment I vowed to NEVER utter those words again in my boating safety career, Why? Because it means NOTHING, it is meaningless and not helpful. As educators, let's be mindful of our messaging and ensure what we say, makes sense, and is helpful, not just some off-the-cuff saying like BE PREPARED. Please make today the day we review our messaging, and be critical of what we say regarding boating safety. Do you say "Be prepared" Is what we are saying make sense, is it meaningful? Have a great day my friends.