United Sates Coast Guard Auxiliary has announced its sponsorship of a Recreational Safe Boating event to help promote National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, the official launch of the 2013 North American Safe Boating Campaign. This year-long campaign promotes the value of voluntary life jacket wear by recreational boaters through the national theme, “Wear It!”
An event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, on the Frederiksted Pier. Representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard St. Croix, USCG Auxiliary Christiansted, National Park Service, VITEMA, V.I. Police Department, Customs Border Patrol, marinas and boating organizations will provide lifejacket and boating safety information. Registration for adult boating classes and grade school water safety programs will be available. A Coast Guard boat will be dockside for viewing.
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in almost three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2011 and that 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
Today’s life jackets are comfortable, stylish and easy to wear. In fact, they don’t even have to be ‘jackets’ anymore. Old-fashioned, bulky orange ones have been replaced with new varieties of life jackets, like inflatable life jackets that may resemble a pair of suspenders or a belt pack. There are specific styles made for anglers, hunters, skiers and other sports enthusiasts. One style even has a built-in walkie-talkie. The event will demonstrate a variety of life jackets suitable for constant wear on the water.
Members of the boating public – including anglers, hunters, paddlers and others who use boats – are encouraged to attend. More information about National Safe Boating Week is available at SafeBoatingCampaign.com, or visit the USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 16-01 Christiansted Web site at http://a0701601.wow.uscgaux.info.
For more information on the Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit www.cgaux.org .
