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Coast Guard kicks off safe boating campaign
SANTA RITA, Guam—The annual National Safe Boating Week safety campaign kicked off nationwide last Saturday.
Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas will host events to highlight the importance of boating safety throughout the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend.
“Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chances of survival during an emergency situation,” said Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Auth, director of auxiliary and recreational boating safety for the Coast Guard 14th District. “The Coast Guard Auxiliary on Oahu will be employing their new mobile life jacket loaner station, which will allow members of the public to borrow life jackets as they need them.”
Saturday was also Ready, Set, Wear It! Life Jacket World Record Day, when thousands of people from around the world attempted to set the world record for the most life jackets worn and inflatable life jackets inflated in one day in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of wearing a life jacket.
In 2015, drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities, and 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. Coast Guard statistics for 2016 have not been released yet. (USCG)
