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UF3Y14E0.book Page 14 Friday, June 12, 2020 10:50 AM

Safety information

in certain kinds of accidents and that it should hold on firmly, either to the person
could injure you in others. in front of them or to the handgrip provid-
A helmet is designed to provide some head ed.
protection. Although helmets cannot pro-  The operator and passengers should al-
tect against all foreseeable impacts, a hel- ways keep their feet on the floor of the foot-
met might reduce your injuries in a collision well when the watercraft is in motion.
with a boat or other obstacle. Lifting your feet increases the chances of
A helmet may have potential safety haz- losing your balance, or hitting objects out-
ards, as well. Falling into the water could side the watercraft with your feet. Do not
risk the chance of the helmet catching wa- give a ride to children if their feet cannot
ter, commonly known as “bucketing”, and reach the floor of the footwell.
the resulting strain on your neck could cau-
se choking, severe and permanent neck in-
juries, or death. A helmet could also
increase the risk of an accident if it reduces
your vision or hearing, or if it distracts you
or increases your fatigue.
How should you decide if a helmet’s poten-
tial safety benefits outweigh its potential
risks for you? Consider your particular rid-
ing conditions. Consider factors such as
your riding environment and your riding  Never allow a passenger to ride in front of
style and ability. Also consider the likeli- the operator.
hood of traffic congestion, and the water  Always consult your doctor on whether it is
surface conditions. safe for you to ride this watercraft if you are
If you decide to wear a helmet based upon pregnant or in poor health.
your riding circumstances, choose one  Do not attempt to modify this watercraft.
carefully. Look for a helmet designed for Modifications to your watercraft may re-
personal watercraft use, if possible. Con- duce safety and reliability, and render the
sider a helmet meeting Snell or DOT stan- watercraft unsafe or illegal for use.
dards. If you will be engaging in closed-  Attach the engine shut-off cord (lanyard) to
course competition, follow the helmet re- your left wrist and keep it free from the han-
quirements of the sanctioning organization. dlebars so that the engine stops if you, the
 Never operate the watercraft after consum- operator, fall off. After riding, remove the
ing alcohol or taking other drugs. engine shut-off cord (lanyard) from the wa-
 For reasons of safety and proper care of
the watercraft, always perform the pre-op-
eration checks listed on page 57 before op-
erating the watercraft.
 The operator should grip the handlebars
firmly with both hands and the passengers

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