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Whether you’re a jet ski expert who takes to the waters weekly, a lover of the sport who doesn’t get as much time on the water as you’d like or a new starter - it’s imperative you take all the precautions to PWC safety.
Whilst some injuries are freak accidents, and therefore unavoidable - there’s plenty you can do to minimise your chance of having an accident on your jet ski, starting with being aware of the most common injuries and knowing how to avoid them.
The most common injuries include:
- Concussion
A concussion injury is caused by a blow to the head. With high speeds and strong winds - this is a frequent injury to PWC riders.
- Spinal cord injuries
This is usually caused when a rider is thrown off the jet ski at high speeds and their back hits the water at force. It tends to be more common in bad weather conditions when the water is particularly choppy. As one of the most serious injuries, you should seek medical attention immediately. This is a primary example as to why it’s always important to have a spotter in case you’re in a situation where you can’t physically move for help.
- Broken wrist
Whilst less serious, it can still have a big impact on day-to-day life. A broken wrist is usually caused by a big impact. Any sort of force to the PWC itself can cause this injury because the hands will be jilted from the handlebars. A broken wrist can also be caused if someone is thrown from the boat and reaches out for support, the sharp force to the wrist will create injury.
- Injured ankle
Whether sprained or fractured, it’s a similar injury to a broken wrist and is often caused by a collision. Dependent on the severity of the injury, it could cause you to have trouble swimming to safety if you’re thrown off, which again, is a good example of why you should have a spotter.
How to avoid them?
There are a number of ways you can avoid these injuries whilst out and about on the water, and one of the most important is the safety equipment. Your two essentials that should be with you at all times whenever out on your PWC include:
- Life jacket - no matter where, when or for how long you’re out on your jet ski, your life jacket should be worn at all times.
- Kill cord - if at any point you’re thrown off your vehicle, the cord that connects you and the ignition will be pulled with you, stopping the jet ski immediately and therefore stopping it from moving towards you.
Keep your capabilities in mind - knowing your limits and when you’re out of your depth (pun intended) is vital to keeping you safe. Discover more safety checks here.
Regular maintenance checks on your PWC is another good way to avoid any accidents, it’s advised to carry these checks out every 6 months. Want to know what you should be looking for when doing a maintenance check? Download out jet ski maintenance checklist.
