The Boat Floats

Guide

Avoiding Injuries on Canals

Most canal injuries are minor and avoidable: bashed shins, crushed fingers, twisted ankles, slips on wet decks. This guide covers the common ones, what causes t

4 min read · Updated 2025-12-31

Avoiding Injuries on Canals

Most canal injuries are minor and avoidable: bashed shins, crushed fingers, twisted ankles, slips on wet decks. This guide covers the common ones, what causes them, and the small habits that prevent them.

The most common injuries

Roughly in order of frequency:

  1. Crushed or pinched fingers at locks. Gates, paddle gears, cleats.
  2. Slips and falls on board. Wet decks, narrow gangways, cabin steps.
  3. Bumped heads on cabin doorways and low bridges.
  4. Twisted ankles on lock-side stones, mooring rings, towpath roots.
  5. Burns and scalds from gas hobs, kettles, the engine.
  6. Sunburn from a long day on deck.
  7. Rope burns from poorly-handled mooring lines.

Genuine emergencies (drownings, severe lock crushes, carbon monoxide) are rare but serious.

  • Hands clear of gates, hinges, paddle gears. No exceptions.
  • Don't hold the windlass when it's spinning under load. Always release the load before walking away.
  • Sturdy shoes on lock stones. They are wet, mossy, and the stones are sloped.
  • Watch where you step. Lock-side bollards and chains are tripping hazards.
  • No one in the chamber while filling/emptying. Stay on the bank or the boat, never in between.

On-board prevention

  • Non-slip shoes inside and out. Wooden floors get wet from canal-side rain and dripping wetsuits.
  • Hold the rail on the cabin steps. They are steep enough to be dangerous in motion.
  • Mind your head on cabin doorways. Most narrowboat doorways are 5'10" or so.
  • Engine room hatches closed when not actively servicing the engine.
  • Children not allowed on roofs when underway.

Knife and stove safety

The galley is small and the knives are sharp:

  • A proper sharp knife is safer than a blunt one (more control)
  • Use a stable cutting board
  • Keep gas hob away from curtains and tea-towels
  • Turn pan handles inward
  • Keep a fire blanket within reach
  • Long sleeves rolled up around the stove

Mooring lines and ropes

  • Wear gloves when handling lines
  • Don't try to stop a moving boat by hand against a bollard - rope-burn injuries are common
  • Loop the line round and let friction do the work
  • Don't stand in the bight of a line (the loop)

Falling overboard

The cold-water rule: a fall in cold water is potentially fatal. Prevention:

  • Life jacket on deck and at locks
  • Non-slip shoes
  • No running on board
  • No leaning over the bow when underway
  • Hold a grab rail when the boat is in motion

If someone does fall in, get them out fast (cold water shock kills in minutes, not hours), warm them up, treat for shock.

Heat and sun

A day on the back deck in summer is more sun exposure than people expect. The water reflects UV. Prevent:

  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Long sleeves and SPF 30+ on shoulders and back of neck
  • Drink water; the gentle rocking masks dehydration

Insect bites and stings

  • Midges and mosquitoes near reedy banks at dusk
  • Wasps in late summer, especially near bins
  • Tick checks if walking through long grass
  • A bite cream and antihistamines in the first-aid kit

What to keep in the first-aid kit

Hire boats carry a basic kit; supplement it with:

  • Plasters in multiple sizes
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Burn gel
  • Painkillers (paracetamol and ibuprofen)
  • Antihistamines
  • Tick remover
  • Bite/sting cream
  • Eye wash
  • Sterile gauze and tape
  • Small scissors and tweezers

Children and pets

The same rules, applied more strictly:

  • Life jackets always
  • Adult supervision at all locks
  • No running on board
  • Dogs kept on board or on a lead at locks
  • Children's hands clear of gates and gear

A prevention checklist

  • Sturdy non-slip shoes for everyone
  • Gardening gloves at every lock
  • Life jackets on deck
  • Hands clear of moving parts
  • First-aid kit topped up
  • Sun cream and water available
  • Crew briefed on the cold water rule
  • A torch each at night

Conclusion

Most canal injuries are minor and easy to prevent. Sturdy shoes, gloves at locks, life jackets near water, hands clear of moving parts, and a properly stocked first-aid kit cover almost everything. Brief the crew on day one, model the habits yourself, and a week of canal boating will pass with nothing worse than a graze.