Coast Guard Emphasizes Boating Safety for National Safe Boating Week and Memorial Day Weekend

LOS ANGELES — With Memorial Day weekend, the traditional start of the recreational boating season, just a week away and in recognition of National Safe Boating Week 2010, the Coast Guard wants boaters to remember to be fully prepared and think about their safety as they spend time on and around the local southern California waters.

The National Safe Boating Week campaign, which this year runs from Saturday May 22 through May 28, is designed to help reduce boating fatalities and accidents by generating an awareness of operator and passenger behavior on the water and to encourage boaters to take personal responsibility for their own safety and the safety of their passengers by following four key tenets of safe boating:

Always wear your life jacket.
Never boat under the influence.
Take a boating safety course.
Get a free Vessel Safety Check.

To help kick off National Safe Boating Week throughout southern California, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting free Vessel Safety Checks . Auxiliary personnel will check your vessel confirming it meets both federal and state safety requirements. These checks give you a risk-free way to check that you meet the legal safety requirements and help to potentially avoid a citation later.

There will also be National Safe Boating Week activities taking place at various marinas and lakes throughout southern California. In Fullerton, the second annual Fly and Float Show at the Fullerton Airport will take place on Saturday, May 22 from 9:00 to 4:00 pm. In addition to boating safety information and exhibits, this event will feature a static display of a rescue boat from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles and a MH-65C rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Los Angeles as well as equipment from other agencies. There will also be a fly over by the Good Year Blimp and other aircraft.

Also on Saturday, May 22, the annual "Safe Boating Expo" will take place at Channel Islands Harbor. This event will feature planned air and sea rescue demonstrations and free harbor rides aboard Coast Guard vessels.

The Coast Guard encourages boaters to enjoy their time on the water, but boat responsibly and be prepared for the conditions. Remember…even the most experienced boaters fall victim to boating accidents!

For more information, please visit these websites:

Register an EPIRB or PLB: www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov
Coast Guard Auxiliary safe boating class: www.cgaux.org/boatinged
Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel safety exams: www.safetyseal.net/
Life jackets: www.uscgboating.org
Float Plans: www.floatplancentral.org

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