Mark and Debbie had finally purchased a little cabin on the lake they had long made a priority to save for and to locate. Although it was small it was impeccably furnished and was very appealing. The best thing about it was its location and the big welcoming deck overlooking the lake made entertaining a piece of cake. Price was no object when choosing comfortable outdoor furniture and they even built a wonderful barbecue area where they could grill out and invite lots of friends to join them for impromptu brunches and early suppers. They invested in canoe outriggers and kayak outriggers in order to offer outdoor activities for their friends and especially for them to enjoy in their leisure time. They also spared no expense when it came to buying fishing gear and outdoor games so that they were available whenever the occasion called for it. All in all, it became a wonderful weekend get-a-way place and they never regretted purchasing it.

Although a scenario like the one described above sounds like a lot of fun there is also a great deal of responsibility that must be assumed anytime someone is entertaining guests around the water. A cabin on the lake suggests relaxation and leisure time but it can be a source of risk if the right safeguards are not put into place. Anytime a boat is involved, there are a few safety tips that must be followed:

• Lifejackets: There should always be lifejackets available for anyone who is in a boat whether it is a large yacht or even a small sport vessel. Even the best swimmer can be caught unaware when a boat capsizes and may not be able to swim to safety for one reason or another. Although many folks balk at wearing a lifejacket, a thoughtful host wears one himself and insists that anyone using his equipment use one as well.

• Limit alcohol: It is a well known fact that alcohol increases the danger involved when anyone is taking part in water activities such as swimming, boating or fishing. Impaired judgment can prompt a person to go further out in deep water when he is swimming or to take chances he otherwise would not. Operating a boat is also extremely hazardous to others when someone has been drinking too much and makes the decision to run it too fast chancing he will not hurt other people. So a good host will limit the amount of alcohol available to his guests when they are visiting to ensure that everyone has a good time and no one is injured by a bad decision.

• Weather awareness: Maybe it sounds frivolous but monitoring the weather when someone is entertaining guests is very important. Severe weather conditions can form fast with not much warning and are known to cause harm and injury particularly when someone is out on the lake in a boat and cannot swiftly make it back to shore. Lightning strikes are unfortunately more common than people think and can cause permanent physical harm and even death so it is always best to be insistent that visitors remain indoors when the chance of lightning is present.