National Safe Boating Week
FRIENDS DON’T LET FRIENDS GO WITHOUT A LIFE JACKET
Coast Guard Auxiliary recommends that the best way to prevent tragedy on the water is to – “Just Wear It”
FORT BRAGG, CA- The week of May 19th to May 26th is National Safe Boating Week all across the United States and here in Mendocino County. In the wake of a recent tragedy in Northern California, where three people died as a result of not wearing lifejackets, and with the boating season under way on the coast and inland waters, the Coast Guard Auxiliary wants to remind the boating public and others who live, work or play around the water – friends don’t let friends go without a lifejacket!
Whether you plan to go fishing, hunting, water-skiing, or just want to enjoy a day on or around the water, the single most import thing you can do to prevent a tragedy is to “just wear it.”
The statistics are fairly consistent in that each year, in that between 80 and 90 percent of those who die in boating accidents drown. An overwhelming number of these drowning victims were not wearing lifejackets. Most boating safety experts believe that the majority of these deaths could have been prevented, if only the drowning victim had simply been wearing a properly fitted life jacket.
Buckle Up
Wearing a lifejacket on a boat is akin to wearing a seat belt in your car. Just as you shouldn’t start your journey in you car without bucking up, you need to wear your lifejacket anytime you are on or near the water. While the law requires most children to “just wear it,” there are no rules for wearing life jackets for adults. In fact, the life jacket wear rate for adults is believed to be somewhere around five percent, far below the wear rate for seatbelts.
The lifejackets of old were bulky and uncomfortable, but today, there are many styles to choose from, including inflatable lifejackets, that offer a maximum amount of comfort and buoyancy.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary urges all boaters, including sailors and paddle craft operators, to wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times when on or near the water. Moreover, so that they can be prepared to deal with emergencies, such as a person falling overboard, it is strongly recommended that they take a boating safety course approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.
Classes in Your Area
To find a boating safety class in your area, call 1-877-875-6296, or visit the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary website.
In addition to wearing a life jacket and taking a boating safety class, boat owners can also take advantage of the free voluntary Vessel Safety Check program offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The program is a courtesy check of safety equipment carried on the boat and compliance with the Federal and State regulations. The program is endorsed by the US Coast Guard, state boating agencies and national boating safety authorities and is offered on all vessels under 65 feet.
Free Vessel Safety Checks
Volunteers from Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 87 will be offering vessel safety checks during National Safe Boating Week at Lake Mendocino and Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg. The schedule for the vessel safety checks is:
Sunday May 20th. South Ramp Lake Mendocino from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wednesday May 23rd. South Ramp Lake Mendocino from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday May 26th. Noyo Harbor Marina and Boat Launch Ramps
Sunday May 27th. Noyo Harbor Marina and Boat Launch Ramps
Appointments for vessel safety checks on other dates can be made by calling Doug Pohlson at 707-459-5438.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer’s who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation’s waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Over 27,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.