NEWS
RELEASE
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
May 14, 1998
CONTACT: Lt. Joy M. Hill (352) 732-1225
LIFE JACKETS EMPHASIZED DURING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK
About 85 percent of all recreational boating fatalities in Florida involve people not wearing life jackets, so the theme of this year’s National Safe Boating Week (May 16-22) is especially appropriate for boaters in our state.
"The theme, ‘Boat Smart From The Start. Wear Your Life Jacket.’ is one that all boaters would do well to keep in mind as they take to the state’s waterways this summer," said Lt. Kathleen Kelley, boating safety coordinator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Central Region.
National Safe Boating Week is May 16-22, the week before the traditional start of summer boating season - Memorial Day Weekend. It’s an annual national campaign created to promote safe boating practices before the waterways become packed with recreational boaters.
But FWC reserve officers took safe boating education a step further this year when they conducted more than 750 safe boating inspections at boat ramps throughout Central Florida during the month of March.
"This was an extraordinary effort on the part of our volunteer reservists to educate the boating public on what safety equipment is required by law while fishing, waterskiing, or while doing any other type of recreational boating," said Kelley. "We’re optimistic this early campaign helped folks become aware of just how important it is to be prepared while cruising the waterways."
Part of that preparedness is to be sure there’s a properly fitted life jacket on board for everyone in the boat, and to make sure children under the age of 6 are actually wearing a life jacket whenever the boat is underway.
As part of this year’s
National Safe Boating Week, the FWC, in cooperation with Pennzoil Marine
Company, is encouraging kids of all ages to put on their life jackets by
rewarding children they see wearing them with a colorful T-shirt that says,
"I Got Caught Wearing My Life Jacket."
Pennzoil Marine Company is the founding member of the Responsible Outdoor Education National Initiative which promotes the diversity of outdoor lifestyles in America. The company donated 2,000 child-sized T-shirts for water patrol officers to give away statewide during National Safe Boating Week.
"Officers in Central Florida will be patrolling the most heavily used waterways in their areas during National Safe Boating Week, encouraging safe boating practices and looking for kids in life jackets," said Lt. Joy M. Hill, public information coordinator for the FWC’s Central Region.
Although life jackets are a major theme in this year’s National Safe Boating Week slogan, ‘Boat Smart From The Start. Wear Your Life Jacket.’ the campaign covers a whole lot more.
"Topics such as alcohol and boating under the influence, and understanding and abiding by navigational rules are all part of boating smart from the start," said Hill. "Before you even think about putting that boat or personal water craft in the water, learn the rules of the waterways. Then follow them and have a fun, safe summer on the water."
To learn safe boating practices consider taking a free, safe boating course offered by the FWC. Anyone born after Sept. 30, 1980 is required to successfully complete an approved boating education course before operating a vessel with a motor of 10 hp or more. This includes personal water craft. For information on where and how to take one of these courses call the FWC in Ocala at (352) 732-1225.
In 1997, the year following the enactment of the new boating education requirement, Florida saw a 29 percent decrease in the number of vessel operators under the age of 16 having boating accidents. Unfortunately during the same time period there was an overall increase in alcohol related fatalities and multiple death accidents.
