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Safe
Boating Campaign Reminds
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Boaters
to Boat Responsibly During
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National
Safe Boating Week
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Manassas,
VA – May 2019 / Newsmaker Alert / The National
Safe Boating Council and its partners are kicking off the annual Safe
Boating Campaign the weekend before Memorial Day with National Safe
Boating Week held May 18-24, with important safety reminders for boaters
as the busy boating season gears up.
“We are excited to join forces
with partners around the world to encourage everyone to wear a life jacket
when on the water and always boat responsibly because the best boating
experience is a safe boating experience,” said Peg Phillips, executive
director of the National Safe Boating Council.
In 2017, the U.S. Coast Guard
reported 658 deaths in the U.S. from boating incidents, with 75 percent
of those deaths caused by drowning. Of those deaths, 85 percent are reported
as not wearing their life jackets.
“Wearing a life jacket is
the simplest safety step a boater can take, just like a driver wears a
seat belt in a vehicle,” continued Phillips.
National Safe Boating Week
kicks off with Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day on Friday, May 17. This
annual event is a fun, educational way to heighten life jacket awareness
and highlight the various styles. Boating enthusiasts are encouraged to
wear their life jacket to work, snap a picture, and share their photo on
social media with the hashtags #lifejacket2work and #safeboating.
The Safe Boating Campaign
continues throughout the boating season with local outreach efforts around
the world, including Ready, Set, Wear It Life Jacket Events on various
dates. These family-friendly events teach boaters about the importance
of always wearing a life jacket, along with helpful care and maintenance
information. Boaters can connect with campaign partners in their local
community at www.safeboatingcampaign.com/become-a-partner.
The Safe Boating Campaign
reminds boaters to follow these safety tips:
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Take a boating safety course.
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Wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved
life jacket.
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Watch the weather.
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No distracted boating.
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Travel at safe speeds.
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Never boat under the influence.
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Have more than one communication
device that works when wet.
More safe boating tips and educational
resources can be found at www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
The Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish
Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.
About the National Safe
Boating Council
The National
Safe Boating Council (NSBC) is a national catalyst for recreational
boating safety and organizer of the Safe Boating Campaign, with support
from boating safety advocates around the world. The Safe Boating Campaign
is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating
Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. For more information
about the NSBC and its programs, please visit www.safeboatingcouncil.org.
Media Contact:
Yvonne
Pentz
National Safe Boating Council
440-670-1294 |