Preventing CO Poisoning While Boating - Boat Ed

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Course Outline

  • Unit 1: Before Getting Underway
    • Topic 1: Getting to Know Your Boat
      • Commonly Used Terms
      • Parts of a Boat From a Side View
      • Parts of a Boat From a Front View
      • Activity: Can You Label the Parts of a Boat?
    • Topic 2: Types of Boat Hulls
      • Displacement Hulls
      • Planing Hulls
      • How Planing Hulls Operate
      • Descriptions of Hull Shapes
    • Topic 3: Boat Length
      • Measuring Length Overall
    • Topic 4: Types of Engines and Drives
      • Outboard Engines
      • Inboard Engines
      • Stern Drives
      • Jet Drives
    • Topic 5: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
      • What Is a Personal Watercraft?
      • Parts of a PWC From a Front View
      • Parts of a PWC From a Side View and Operator's View
      • Activity: Can You Label the Parts of a PWC?
    • Topic 6: Your Pleasure Craft's Compliance Notice
      • What Is a Compliance Notice?
      • Compliance Notice Requirements
      • Types of Compliance Notices
      • Compliance Notices: Vessels 6 Metres or Less in Length
      • Compliance Notices: Vessels More Than 6 Metres in Length
      • Examples of Compliance Notices
    • Topic 7: Float Plans
      • Filing a Float Plan
      • Float Plan for Short Outings
      • Float Plan for Extended Outings
    • Topic 8: Fuel Your Pleasure Craft...Safely
      • Before Fueling
      • While Fueling
      • After Fueling
      • Fueling a PWC
      • Video: Fueling Your Boat
    • Topic 9: Launching and Retrieving Your Pleasure Craft
      • Courtesy on the Ramp
      • Do Not Power Load Your Pleasure Craft
      • Video: Trailering & Launching
    • Topic 10: Taking Care of Your Boat and Engine
      • Pleasure Craft Maintenance
      • Alternatives to Toxic Cleansers
      • Engine Maintenance
    • Topic 11: Summary
      • What You've Learned
  • Unit 2: Mandatory Safety Equipment
    • Topic 1: Personal Lifesaving Appliances
      • Overview
      • Flotation Devices
      • Adjusting Your Flotation Device
      • Lifejackets
      • Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
      • Flotation Device Labels
      • Caring for Your Flotation Device
      • Inflatable PFDs
      • Inflatable PFD Requirements
      • Inflatable PFD Maintenance
      • Children and Flotation Devices
      • Buoyant Heaving Lines and Lifebuoys
      • Buoyant Heaving Lines and Lifebuoys: Requirements
      • Reboarding Devices
    • Topic 2: Vessel Safety Equipment
      • Manual Propelling Devices and Anchors
      • Bailers and Bilge Pumps
    • Topic 3: Fire-Fighting Equipment
      • Types of Fire-Fighting Equipment
      • Axes
      • Fire Buckets
      • Types of Fire Extinguishers
      • Requirement to Carry Fire Extinguishers
      • Keep Fire Extinguishers Usable and Accessible
      • Fire Extinguisher Charge Indicators
    • Topic 4: Other Engine Requirements
      • Ignition-Protection Device
      • Ventilation Systems
      • How Ventilation Systems Work
      • Mufflers and Engine Shut-Off Lines
    • Topic 5: Distress Equipment
      • Visual Signals
      • Watertight Flashlights
      • Distress Flares
      • Distress Flares: Types of Approved Distress Flares
      • Requirements to Carry Visual Signals
    • Topic 6: Navigation Equipment
      • Sound-Signalling Equipment
      • Sound-Signalling Equipment: Requirements
      • Common Sound Signals
      • Common Navigation Lights
      • Overview of Navigation Lights Law
      • Required Navigation Lights: Powerboats
      • Required Navigation Lights: Sailboats Under Sail
      • Required Navigation Lights: Manually Powered Boats
      • Required Navigation Lights: Boats at Anchor
      • Magnetic Compass and Nautical Chart Requirements
      • Radar Reflectors
    • Topic 7: Pleasure Craft Safety Check
      • Who Can Inspect Your Pleasure Craft
      • Pleasure Craft Courtesy Check Program
    • Topic 8: Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements
      • Summary of Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements
      • Requirements for Human-Powered Vessels
      • Requirements for Personal Watercraft
      • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats up to 6m
      • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 6m and up to 9m
      • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 9m and up to 12m
      • Requirements for Sailboats and Powerboats over 12m and up to 24m
    • Topic 9: Summary
      • What You've Learned
  • Unit 3: Legal Requirements of Boating
    • Topic 1: Your Boat's Identification
      • Which Boats Require Registration?
      • Which Boats Require a Licence?
      • Other Facts About a Boat Licence
      • Displaying the Licence Number
      • Updating Ownership Information
      • Hull Serial Number (HIN)
    • Topic 2: Who May Operate
      • Age and Horsepower Restrictions
      • Proof of Competency Requirements
      • Proof of Competency Requirements: Non-Residents of Canada
    • Topic 3: Operating Regulations
      • Unlawful Operation of a Pleasure Craft
      • Province-Wide Shoreline Speed Restrictions as of 2013
      • Video: The Danny Hampson Story
      • Small Vessel Regulations
      • Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations
    • Topic 4: Alcohol and Drugs
      • Minimize Risk by Avoiding Alcohol
      • Understand Alcohol Impairment
      • Blood Alcohol Concentration
      • Operation While Impaired
      • Sobriety Tests
      • Penalties for Operating While Impaired
    • Topic 5: Boating in U.S. Waters
      • Homeland Security Restrictions
    • Topic 6: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
      • Requirements Specific to PWCs
      • Lawful Operation of a PWC
    • Topic 7: Water Skiing
      • Towing a Person Legally
      • Hand Signals for Skiers
      • Animation: Towing Risks
    • Topic 8: Diving
      • Stay Away From Divers
      • Types of Flags
    • Topic 9: Waste, Oil, and Trash Disposal
      • Overview of Pollutant Disposal Laws
      • Discharge of Sewage and Waste
      • Discharge of Sewage and Waste (cont.)
      • Discharge of Garbage
      • Discharge of Oil and Other Hazardous Substances
    • Topic 10: Wrecked, Abandoned, or Hazardous Vessels
      • Wrecked, Abandoned or Hazardous Vessels Act
      • Vessel Ownership Responsibility
      • How to Be a Responsible Vessel Owner
      • Illegal Practices Under the Act
      • Penalties Under the Act
      • Impact of Improper Disposal
    • Topic 11: Protect the Environment
      • Marine Mammals
      • Invasive Species
      • Stop the Spread of Invasive Species
      • Video: Aquatic Invasive Species
    • Topic 12: Boating Accidents and Casualties
      • Assisting Persons Found at Sea
      • What You Must Do if Involved in an Accident
      • Reporting an Accident
      • Accident Resulting in a Wreck
    • Topic 13: Enforcement and Penalties
      • Who Enforces Boating Laws?
      • Contraventions Act
      • Complying With Boating Restrictions
    • Topic 14: Summary
      • What You've Learned
  • Unit 4: Operating Your Pleasure Craft Safely
    • Topic 1: Responsibilities of a Pleasure Craft Operator
      • Responsibility to Your Passengers
      • Pre-Departure Checklist
      • Video: Preparing to Ride
      • Responsibility to the Environment
    • Topic 2: Casting Off and Docking
      • Before Casting Off
      • Before Docking
      • Video: Casting Off & Docking
    • Topic 3: Anchoring
      • Choosing the Right Anchor
      • Preparing Your Anchor
      • Anchoring Your Pleasure Craft: Step-by-Step
      • Allowing for "Swing Room" When Anchoring
      • While Anchored and When Retrieving an Anchor
      • Video: Anchoring Your Boat
    • Topic 4: Operating in Historic Canals and Locks
      • Historic Canals
      • Locks
      • Traffic Signal Lights at Locks
      • Going Through Locks
    • Topic 5: Changing Water Levels
      • Dangers of Fluctuating Water Levels
      • Tides and Currents
    • Topic 6: Compasses and Nautical Charts
      • Before You Go Boating
      • Magnetic Compasses
      • Nautical Charts
      • Nautical Charts (cont.)
    • Topic 7: Personal Watercraft (PWCs)
      • Video: Personal Watercraft: Preparing to Ride
      • Before You Go Out on Your PWC
      • Operating a Personal Watercraft
      • Be Aware of Blind Spots
      • Video: Personal Watercraft: On the Water
    • Topic 8: Avoiding Propeller Strike Injuries
      • The Most Gruesome of Boating Accidents
      • Animation: The "Circle of Death"
      • How to Prevent Propeller Strikes
    • Topic 9: Summary
      • What You've Learned
  • Unit 5: Safe Navigation on the Water
    • Topic 1: Navigation Rules: Traffic Laws of the Waterways
      • Three Major Responsibilities of Every Boater
      • Rules for Encountering Other Vessels
      • Exceptions to the Navigation Rules
    • Topic 2: Encountering Other Vessels
      • Power-Driven Vessel Encountering Power-Driven Vessel
      • Activity: Meeting Head-On—Power vs. Power
      • Activity: Paths That Cross—Power vs. Power
      • Activity: Overtaking—Power vs. Power
      • Power-Driven Vessel Encountering Sailing Vessel
      • Activity: Meeting Head-On—Power vs. Sail
      • Activity: Paths That Cross—Power vs. Sail
      • Activity: Overtaking—Power vs. Sail
      • Sailing Vessel Encountering Sailing Vessel
      • Animation: Wind on Same Side—Sail vs. Sail
      • Animation: Wind on Different Sides—Sail vs. Sail
      • Responsibilities Between Vessels
      • Responsibilities Between Vessels: Rendering Assistance
      • Video: Rules of the Waterways
    • Topic 3: Navigating in Special Situations
      • Operating During Restricted Visibility
      • Operating in Narrow Channels
      • Operating Around Large Vessels
    • Topic 4: Night Navigation
      • Challenges of Navigating at Night
      • When You See a Green and a White Light
      • Animation: When You See a Green and a White Light
      • When You See Only a White Light
      • Animation: When You See Only a White Light
      • When You See a Red and a White Light
      • Animation: When You See a Red and a White Light
      • When You See a Red, a Green, and a White Light
      • Animation: When You See a Red, a Green, and a White Light
      • When You See a Red and a Green Light But No White Light
      • Animation: When You See a Red and a Green Light But No White Light
      • When You See Only a Green Light
      • Animation: When You See Only a Green Light
      • When You See Only a Red Light
      • Animation: When You See Only a Red Light
      • Video: Navigating at Night
      • Towing Lights on Commercial Vessels
      • Lights on Fishing Vessels
    • Topic 5: Canadian Aids to Navigation System (CANS)
      • Traffic Signals of the Waterways
      • Video: Navigating the Waterways
      • Lateral Buoys: Starboard Hand and Port Hand
      • Lateral Buoys: Bifurcation
      • Lateral Buoys: "Right Red Returning"
      • Lateral Buoys: Fairway
      • Day Beacons: Starboard Hand and Port Hand
      • Day Beacons: Bifurcation
      • Isolated Danger Buoys
      • Cardinal Buoys
      • Special-Purpose Buoys: Information, Hazard, Control, and Keep-Out
      • Special-Purpose Buoys: Anchorage, Cautionary, Swimming, and Mooring
    • Topic 6: Summary
      • What You've Learned
  • Unit 6: Boating Emergencies
    • Topic 1: Risk Management
      • Prepare for and Prevent Accidents
      • Causes of Accidents and Fatalities
      • Practice Risk Management
      • Increased Risk Due to Fatigue
      • Video: Avoiding Accidents
    • Topic 2: Capsizing, Swamping, Sinking, or Falling Overboard
      • Ending Up in the Water Unexpectedly
      • Preventing Capsizing, Swamping, Sinking, or Falling Overboard
      • If You Capsize, Swamp, or Fall Overboard
      • If Your Pleasure Craft Sinks or Floats Away
      • If a Passenger Falls Overboard
    • Topic 3: Handling Collisions, Hull Leaks, or Flooding
      • Avoiding Collisions
      • If You Are in a Collision
    • Topic 4: Dealing With Fire Emergencies
      • Preventing a Fire
      • If a Fire Erupts on Your Pleasure Craft
      • How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
    • Topic 5: Running Aground
      • Preventing Running Aground
      • If Your Pleasure Craft Runs Aground
    • Topic 6: Cold Water Immersion and Hypothermia
      • Cold Water Immersion Kills
      • Stages 1 and 2 of Cold Water Immersion
      • Stages 3 and 4 of Cold Water Immersion
      • Preparing for Possible Cold Water Immersion
      • Surviving Cold Water Immersion
      • Protecting Against Rapid Heat Loss
      • The HELP and Huddle Positions
      • Treating a Victim of Cold Water Immersion
      • Hypothermia
      • Hypothermia: Treatment
      • Video: Preparing for Emergencies
    • Topic 7: Heat Exhaustion, Heat Stroke, and Seasickness
      • Heat Exhaustion
      • Heat Stroke
      • Seasickness
    • Topic 8: Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
      • What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?
      • Preventing CO Poisoning Before You Go Boating
      • Preventing CO Poisoning While Boating
      • CO Poisoning Situations: Blocked Exhaust or Another Boat's Exhaust
      • CO Poisoning Situations: Teak Surfing
      • CO Poisoning Situations: Slow Speed or Station Wagon Effect
    • Topic 9: Fuel-Burning Appliances
      • Why Are Propane and Butane Dangerous?
      • Using Propane and Butane Appliances Safely
    • Topic 10: Weather and Water Condition Emergencies
      • How to Avoid Severe Weather
      • How to Avoid Severe Weather (cont.)
      • Listen to Weather Reports
      • Wind Warnings
      • Severe Weather: Prepare Your Boat and Passengers
      • Severe Weather: Go to Shore or Ride It Out?
      • Debris After Heavy Rains
    • Topic 11: Summoning Help
      • What You Need on Board to Summon Help
      • What You Need on Board to Summon Help (cont.)
      • Using a VHF Marine Radio
      • Using a VHF Marine Radio (cont.)
      • Issuing a MAYDAY or Pan-Pan Call
      • Issuing a MAYDAY or Pan-Pan Call: How to Issue a Call
      • VHF Marine Radio Channels
    • Topic 12: Summary
      • What You've Learned
View Course Outline

To protect yourself and others against CO poisoning while boating:

  • Allow fresh air to circulate throughout the pleasure craft at all times, even during bad weather. Be especially careful to keep the following well ventilated:
    • Cooking areas
    • Heated cabin areas
    • Areas with protective coverings
  • Make sure all fuel-burning engines and appliances are certified or designed for marine use.
    • Use them only in well-ventilated areas.
    • Take extra care if they are running when your pleasure craft is not moving.
  • Install and maintain CO detectors inside your pleasure craft. Replace batteries and detectors as recommended by the manufacturer.
  • Ventilate immediately if exhaust vapours are detected on the pleasure craft.
  • Know where your engine and generator exhaust outlets are located and keep everyone away from these areas because they can contain the highest concentration of carbon monoxide.
  • Never sit on the back deck, “teak surf,” or hang on the swim platform while the engines are running.
  • Never enter areas under swim platforms where exhaust outlets are located—even for a second. One or two breaths in this area could be fatal.
Illustration showing swim platform and danger areas on the rear of a houseboat
  • Unit 6 of 6
  • Topic 8 of 12
  • Page 3 of 6
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