It is important that you educate yourself about parasailing before you participate. This is especially important for those novice or first-time parasailors. Listed below are a few safety tips that you can use as a guide. Visual Inspection: Make sure that the parasail boat appears to be well maintained. Avoid parasailing with an operator whose parasail equipment looks old and weathered, this is especially true with the tow rope, never parasail if the tow rope looks worn or frayed. This is your life line! Established Locations: Choose a parasail business that operates from an established location and not a beach front. Release Forms: When you sign the release form. Make sure that the operator explains all of the risks. Avoid operators that simply hand you a release form and tell you to sign it. Pre-Flight Safety Briefing: A professional, safety conscious parasail operation will always provide you with detailed safety briefing prior to your flight. This briefing should include. 1) A basic description of the parasail activity, equipment and inherent risks. 2) Safety precautions during your excursion while onboard the vessel. 3) The proper use of hand signals in the event you want to be retrieved before your ride is over. 4) Provide instruction on the correct position for landings, especially in rough seas an high speed landings to prevent body injuries. 5) Detailed rescue instructions and survival techniques in the event of equipment failure, emergency water landings especially in high winds and/or rough seas. Warning: If you do not receive a safety briefing do not parasail with that operator! Weather: Check the local weather before parasailing. Never fly in rain, fog or an approaching storm fronts in the area. Avoid parasailing in winds over 15 mph which can increase your risk in the event during an emergency water landing. Age Limits: Most operators claim that you can parasail at 8 years old. It is important to understand that there are some basic physical and communication skill requirements when parasailing, especially in an emergency which can become problematic. Therefore, I would recommend that parasailors be at least 14 years of age to participate and fly only with an adult. Fear of Heights: You should not parasail if you panic easily; or have fear of heights; or for any other reason that makes you feel uncomfortable or hesitant to parasail. Communication and Rescue: Parasailing beyond 600 feet from the parasail tow boat can a) reduce your ability to communicate with the Capitan and Crew ; and b) diminished water rescues especially during a tow rope separation How can you determine your flying altitude? Just ask the operator how much tow rope they reel out from the parasail tow boat. If they say 1,000 feet, that means you are capable of achieving a flying altitude of up to 750 feet based on a simple mathematical calculation! Safe Parasailing Distance from the Shoreline: Safe operators use a general rule when determining a safe distance from the shoreline which is 3 times the tow rope length from the boat. For example. If they reel you out 600 feet, they should stay a minimum of 1,800 feet away from the shoreline. Never parasail with an operator who does not observe this well established safety standard! Remember! Parasailing in general is a safe and fun Aerial Adventure.