Tips for being safe in the dark with your outdoor equipment

Safety is a big concern for those who enjoy the outdoors, especially when their outdoor activities involve recreational equipment that can be difficult to use when natural light is not available. Here are some tips to stay safe while playing outside – both day and night.

* Boating - Boat enthusiasts love to spend as many hours as possible on the water, but when the sun drops, lights are required. Boat manufacturers make bow and stern tall lights to help other boaters see your vessel. But that doesn’t help the family onboard see maps or each other. Installing a 12-inch, 39-inch or even a 60-inch Access LED light along the inside edge of the boat rail and connecting it to a 12-volt energy source makes it easy for families to stay out on the boat, even after the sun sets. Once installed, pushing the button is all that is needed to turn the lights on – no additional set up required. And the light is waterproof, so you don’t need to worry about water splashing over the edge and shorting it out.

* Trailers - Ever walked inside a cargo trailer to unload your sporting equipment with your sunglasses on, and bumped your head on the roof, or your shin on the items stored inside? When trailering, the equipment can shift during the ride, making it a potentially dangerous area to enter without precaution. Consider securing all equipment to the front or walls of the trailer with safety straps, and protecting sharp edges with padding. Also line the entry way with reflective tape to help avoid bumping your head on the low roof. Installing one or two Access LED lights along the ceiling or front of the trailer with the on/off button next to the doorway will also help eliminate bruised heads and shins in the future.

* Ice fishing – Ice fishermen have poles in the water 24/7 when the fishing is good. And ice houses are built to be dark at all times of the day on the inside. This is to prevent any light shining through the hole in the ice and spooking the fish. But when it comes time to bait a lure or check a line, light becomes a necessity. Hooking a finger instead of the bait, or cutting a hand on the teeth or fins of a caught fish could entail a trip to the emergency room. Fish houses usually come with window patches, which when removed on a sunny day provides ample light, but on overcast days, or in the early evening hours, additional light is necessary. The Access LED light can quickly fill that need with the push of a button. As soon as the lure is baited – or the fish measured and returned to the water – just push the button to turn off the light stuck to the roof of the fishing shanty and go back to fishing.

Have fun outdoors both this winter and summer, but be certain to keep as many safety measures in place as possible to prevent injury. When in doubt, always be certain to incorporate additional lighting so you can see the equipment you’re working with.