Hello boater! Effective July 17, 2009, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources changed their guidelines for distance learning. Students are now required to spend a minimum amount of time on each course page before proceeding to the certification exam.

Click here to go to the latest version of the Boat Illinois online course—the official boating safety course of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

Boating Emergencies—What To Do
Summary

In the Boating Emergencies section, students learned the importance of practicing risk management while boating. Four of the most important risk management factors to understand are the effects of boating stressors; how dehydration occurs and how to recognize and prevent it; the increased effects of alcohol on the water; and, how to properly size a PFD for a wearer and check a PFD's condition. Boaters should know how to avoid collisions and be able to take the proper safety actions if a vessel capsizes, is swamped, or runs aground. Students also learned how to respond properly to a fire emergency, how to recognize and treat hypothermia, and how to prevent and be able to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning. All boaters should be able to obtain weather forecasts and recognize weather warnings and know what to do if caught in severe weather.