National Safe Boating Week is an effort supported every year by the National Safe Boating Council and National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in concert with the United States Coast Guard to made the public aware of safety issues related to recreational boating.
Boating Safety is an Important Issue Across the Country
According to the Coast Guard, there are nearly 700 fatalities related to recreational boating in the United States each year. The most important message being conveyed by the Safe Boating Campaign is for boaters to always wear a life jacket. In data published by the Coast Guard in 2004, 90 percent of the people who drown in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket.
Modern life jackets aren’t the orange, bulky and kapok filled vests that were commonly used in the past. There are Coast Guard approved life jackets designed for every on the water activity. They can take the form of suspenders, belt mounted pouches, form fitting vests, and cold weather float coats. Chances of surviving a fall overboard or boating accident rise dramatically through use of a life jacket. There is seldom enough time to don a life jacket after a fall or once another incident occurs. Putting a life jacket on in the water is incredibly difficult.
National Safe Boating Week
National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) occurs on May 16th to the 22nd in 2009. To make remembering the dates easier, NSBW is always scheduled each year to occur on the first full week that falls before Memorial Day.
Boating safety professionals use NSBW as a venue to provide safety information at boat shows, conduct vessel safety checks, teach boating safety classes, and promote the use of life jackets.
The Safe Boating Campaign offers a wealth of information and educational programs for boaters:
- Life Jackets – Information on the many types of recreational life jackets available, product listings for hunting and fishing use, and details on inflatable life jackets
- Accident Statistics – Details on the most recently published data available from the Coast Guard for 2007
- Publications – Fact filled listings of online publications, activity sheets, carbon monoxide safety and access to the National Safe Boating Council’s magazine, Small Craft Advisory
- Kidsite Central – Boating safety activities geared to make children more aware of water safety. The site includes online games, educational features, and the Sidekicks portal
- Water Trails – Linkage to the American Canoe Association and its excellent resources designed for paddlers
Boating safety is important for everyone that enjoys being out on the water. Taking the time to be safe and learning about proper use of safety equipment only enhances the boating experience. Visit the Safe Boating Campaign site to help prepare for a safe and incident free boating season.
Alan Sorum - Alan Sorum is the Maritime Operations Project Manager for the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC). Alan is ...
