Most propeller accidents can be prevented if operators follow a few simple safety practices.

• Turn off the engine when passengers are boarding or disembarking. Propellers should not be spinning when a passenger is in a vulnerable situation.
• Prevent passengers from being thrown overboard accidentally.
• Never start a boat with the engine in gear.
• Never ride on a seat back, gunwale, transom, or bow.
• Make sure all passengers are seated properly before getting underway. Some operators cause injuries by putting the engine in gear while people are still swimming or diving from the boat.
• Assign a responsible adult to watch any children in the boat and sound the alarm if a child falls overboard.
• Maintain a proper lookout for people in the water. The primary cause of propeller strike accidents is operator inattention or carelessness.
• Slow down when approaching congested areas and anchorages. In congested areas, always be alert for swimmers and divers.
• Learn to recognize warning buoys that mark swimming and other hazardous areas.
• Keep the boat away from marked swimming and diving areas. Become familiar with the red flag with a white diagonal stripe and the blue-and-white “Alfa” flag—both signal that divers are down.