Jet skiing
Download this
page as a pdf
Includes
- Jet biking
- Personal watercraft
See also
Description
This activity involves the use of personal
watercraft called jet bikes, which are more commonly known as Jet
Skis (a trademark belonging to the Kawasaki Company).
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to those aged seven and over.
Some activity providers have their own age,
height and weight restrictions.
Participants must be able
to:
- swim 50 metres
- keep afloat for five minutes in the clothes
normally worn for the activity.
Participants may fulfil these rules wearing a
buoyancy aid or life jacket when either is required for the
activity. Click here to find out which type
is required for your particular classification of
water/activity.
If you have a participant with a medical
condition that will affect her ability to swim, ensure that you
inform the instructor and make provision to allow her to
participate safely.
Ratio of adults to
girls
The ratio for activities in open water is one
adult to five girls with a minimum of two adults for all
sections.
There must be sufficient adult helpers to
supervise and maintain the appropriate ratio at all times.
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that
the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
- When using a commercial activity provider,
ensure it is reputable. You can verify the quality of a provider by
checking it has one of the following endorsements: AALA, Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
The above endorsements are not applicable in
Northern Ireland, where you should ask your local Outdoor
Activities Adviser to recommend an approved provider.
The Leader must:
- ensure the required buoyancy aids/life jackets are used
- ensure that safety rules and alarm signals
have been explained to the participants
- be satisfied that everyone understands the
need for instructions to be obeyed immediately
- follow the guidelines in the Water
Safety Code and ensure that the responsible adult helpers
are familiar with them
- ensure that the water is suitable for jet
skiing, seeking advice if necessary
- decide on the day, with the instructor(s),
whether conditions are safe for jet skiing.
Instructor
qualifications
- For inland water the minimum
qualification required is RYA Powerboat Instructor (Inland).
- For coastal water the
minimum qualification required is RYA Powerboat Instructor with
Coastal Endorsement.
- When undertaking this activity through a
commercial provider you should use an RYA-affiliated centre.
- If using a safety boat during this activity
it is recommended that the driver should have first aid and
lifesaving knowledge and hold RYA National Power Boat Certificate
Level 2.
Useful
information
On the day, the Leader should ensure that the
water is safe for the activity.
Water should be inspected for signs of visible
pollution, for example rubbish, blue-green
algae or chemicals.
If either the Leader or the instructor is not
satisfied that the conditions are safe, the activity must be
abandoned.
The Leader should ensure each participant (or
her parent if the participant is under 18 years old) is aware of
the dangers and symptoms of Weil’s
disease and knows what action to take if infection is
suspected. On the day of the activity participants should be
advised to cover cuts and grazes with waterproof plasters to help
prevent infection.
Ensure participants have suitable clothing and
footwear. Wetsuits or dry suits are advisable. Commercial providers
are likely to have their own required kit list.
Ensure the equipment being used is:
- in good condition
- the correct size for the participant
- adequately insured.
Useful websites
Water and leisure safety advice from
the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents
www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/adviceandinformation/watersafety
Royal Yachting Association – http://www.rya.org.uk/
Page last updated: 4/4/2012