UPCOMING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Public Affairs



Date: 10 February, 2010
Aux. Kirk Scarborough
Public Affairs Officer
Captkirk55@aol.com
714 777-2300

Press Release
UPCOMING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK

Long Beach, CA --- It’s almost time for the recreational boating “fleet” to come out of mothballs to enjoy good times in the sun and on the water! So it is time to remind the public that safe boating will lead to more enjoyable outings.

National Safe Boating Week is May 22 – 28. During this week, look for events in your community hosted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Attend one and learn what you and your families can do to be safe and to enhance your recreational experience on the water.

4,789 boating accidents were reported in 2008, leading to 709 deaths, 3,331 injuries, and an estimated $54 million of damage to property, according to Coast Guard statistics. Over 2/3 of all fatal boating accident victims were the result of drowning, and of these, 90% were not wearing a life jacket.

What can you do to be safe on the water?

Take a boating safety class. Find local course listings at http://www.cgaux.org/visitors/pe_visitor/index.html .

Get a free vessel safety check. Find a qualified examiner at http://www.safetyseal.net/GetVSC/

Ensure that everyone aboard your boat wears a life jacket. http://www.safeboatingcouncil.org

Don’t forget to watch for, and participate, in National Safe Boating Week! www.safeboatingcampaign.com

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The 30,000 volunteer members (men and women), America’s Volunteer Guardians, support the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service’s missions.

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