North American Safe Boating Week is May 21-27
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – An alarming trend continues to take the lives of boaters and paddlers every year across the United States, but the solution is simple – wear a life jacket!
Nationwide, close to 700 people die every year in boating and paddling accidents. Approximately 75% drown, and, of these, an average of 85% were not wearing a life jacket. The most recent data for the mid-Atlantic’s Fifth Coast Guard District, shows 83 people died in boating and paddling accidents; many were not wearing a life jacket.
“The single most important piece of survival equipment on the water is your life jacket,” reports Dennis Sens, recreational boating safety specialist for the Fifth Coast Guard District.
“What’s important for people to realize is that a crisis can occur at any time,” said Sens. “Should a crisis occur and you find yourself in the water, your chances of surviving are excellent with a life jacket, not so without.”
The North American Safe Boating Campaign, an annual campaign that raises awareness that wearing life jackets saves lives, kicks off with the North American Safe Boating Week Saturday, May 21, and runs through Friday, May 27. The campaign, while strongly emphasizing that life jackets save lives, also stresses that boating education, properly maintained boats and equipment, and safe and sober boating and paddling all contribute to saving lives.
For more details about the 2005 North American Safe Boating Campaign log onto: www.safeboatingcampaign.com <http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com>
To learn more about boating and paddling safety, visit the following Web sites:
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety: www.uscgboating.org <http://www.uscgboating.org>
National Safe Boating Council: www.safeboatingcouncil.org <http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org>
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators: www.nasbla.org <http://www.nasbla.org>
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: www.cgaux.org <http://www.cgaux.org>
United States Power Squadrons: www.usps.org <http://www.usps.org>
For further information or to interview the Coast Guard’s regional boating safety specialist, please call Dennis Sens at (757) 398-6204.
North American Safe Boating Week is May 21-27
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – An alarming trend continues to take the lives of boaters and paddlers every year across the United States, but the solution is simple – wear a life jacket!
Nationwide, close to 700 people die every year in boating and paddling accidents. Approximately 75% drown, and, of these, an average of 85% were not wearing a life jacket. The most recent data for the mid-Atlantic’s Fifth Coast Guard District, shows 83 people died in boating and paddling accidents; many were not wearing a life jacket.
“The single most important piece of survival equipment on the water is your life jacket,” reports Dennis Sens, recreational boating safety specialist for the Fifth Coast Guard District.
“What’s important for people to realize is that a crisis can occur at any time,” said Sens. “Should a crisis occur and you find yourself in the water, your chances of surviving are excellent with a life jacket, not so without.”
The North American Safe Boating Campaign, an annual campaign that raises awareness that wearing life jackets saves lives, kicks off with the North American Safe Boating Week Saturday, May 21, and runs through Friday, May 27. The campaign, while strongly emphasizing that life jackets save lives, also stresses that boating education, properly maintained boats and equipment, and safe and sober boating and paddling all contribute to saving lives.
For more details about the 2005 North American Safe Boating Campaign log onto: www.safeboatingcampaign.com <http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com>
To learn more about boating and paddling safety, visit the following Web sites:
U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety: www.uscgboating.org <http://www.uscgboating.org>
National Safe Boating Council: www.safeboatingcouncil.org <http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org>
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators: www.nasbla.org <http://www.nasbla.org>
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary: www.cgaux.org <http://www.cgaux.org>
United States Power Squadrons: www.usps.org <http://www.usps.org>
For further information or to interview the Coast Guard’s regional boating safety specialist, please call Dennis Sens at (757) 398-6204.