The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries requirements for online boating safety courses changed effective January 1, 2009 and the NEW Boat Virginia Online Course meets those requirements. The old Boat Virginia course and test does not meet those requirements and was discontinued on December 31, 2008.

• Take the NEW Boat Virginia Online Course!
• Or, you can order the Boat Virginia Video Course

The course material below remains as a resource for all who boat on Virginia's waters—particularly experienced boaters who need a refresher, but not a boater education certificate.

Chapter 5: Boating Emergencies—What To Do
Summary

You've completed the material of Chapter 5 of the online boating safety course!

You should now:

• Understand how to practice risk management while boating
• Understand the effects of boating stressors
• Understand how dehydration occurs and how to recognize and prevent it
• Understand the increased effects of alcohol on the water
• Be able to properly size a PFD for a wearer and check a PFD's condition
• Know how to avoid collisions
• Be able to take the proper safety actions if a vessel capsizes, is swamped, or runs aground
• Be able to respond properly to a fire emergency
• Be able to recognize the symptoms of hypothermia, avoid hypothermia if trapped in cold water, and give basic treatment to victims
• Know how to prevent and be able to recognize the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning
• Be able to obtain weather forecasts and recognize weather warnings and know what to do if caught in severe weather.

If you haven't already completed the Chapter 5 review exercise, follow this link to take the Review Questions for Chapter 5: Boating Emergencies—What to Do. Or, go through the interactive Flash animation below.