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“You’re In Command,” so BOAT SAFELY!!!

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Written by Ed Sweeney, Chief – Media Division, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary   

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The Coast Guard Auxiliary Reminds YOU:
“You’re In Command,” so BOAT SAFELY!!!
Ed Sweeney, Chief – Media Division, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Nothing beats recreational boating as a way to relax, have fun, and bring friends and family together. That’s why it’s tragic when a recreational boating outing ends with an accident. Too many people are injured or even killed while boating on America’s waterways. Many of these people are responsible, conscientious boaters who think their experience or equipment is enough to keep them and their passengers safe.



Have you ever wondered how you can make a difference in recreational boating safety?  Although recreational boating fatalities continue to decline since 1973, there are still far too many deaths, injuries, and accidents involving recreational boaters on the nation's waterways.  Furthermore, preventable recreational boating accidents consume valuable resources and time of the states and the U.S. Coast Guard that could otherwise be devoted to the Coast Guard's new homeland security responsibilities.

As a boat owner or operator, you are responsible for your safety and the safety of your passengers. That’s why the U.S. Coast Guard and Auxiliary have developed a new program called, “You’re In Command. Boat Safely.”

The theory underlying this program is - the more prepared you are, the less chance the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, state, and local marine law enforcement resources will need to be dedicated towards search and rescue missions for recreational  boaters. This could result in more time to devote to the protection of our nation’s waterways (homeland security).

The Cold Hard Facts
The Coast Guard’s most recent boating-related accident statistics show:
·    750 fatalities — 4,062 injuries — $39 million in property damage.
·    Eighty-five percent of drowning victims were not wearing life jackets.
·    Alcohol was involved in nearly 40 percent of all boating fatalities.
·    About 80 percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not completed a boating safety education course.
·    The most reported types of accidents are collisions with other vessels. However, capsizing and passengers falling overboard are the most reported types of fatal accidents and account for over half of all boating fatalities.
·    Overall, operator inattention, carelessness/reckless operation, operator inexperience, and excessive speed are the leading contributing factors of all reported accidents.

In other words, human judgment and error played a large role in the majority of boating deaths and accidents.

The Four Principles of Boating Safely

There are four cornerstones to the You’re In Command Program: (1) Get a FREE Vessel Safety Check; (2) Take a Boating Safety Course; (3) ALWAYS wear your life jacket; and (4) NEVER Boat Under the Influence.  Let’s look at these in a little more detail.

Vessel Safety Check(VSC):  Things can go wrong on the water, with dangerous, if not fatal, results. Your only risk of having a VSC is NOT having one done. 

The vessel Safety Check program is a one-on-one boater education opportunity.  Vessel examiners do not issue citations.  There are no penalties for not successfully completing a Vessel Safety Check. And while the VSC decal won’t necessarily preclude boarding’s by law enforcement authorities, it can give you confidence that such encounters are as positive as possible. Need another reason? A large number of major insurance providers offer discounts for boats that successfully pass a Vessel Safety Check! To request a vessel safety check, call 1-800-368-5647 or visit www.vesselsafetycheck.org .

Boating Safety Courses:  It has been reported that among operators involved in all reported boating accidents, approximately 80 percent have never taken a boating safety course.  The Coast Guard Auxiliary has a class for almost every need, from a refresher/intro class like America’s Boating Course (that can be done largely via self study), to advanced training in Coastal Navigation. 

Need yet another reason to take a boating safety class? Many insurance companies offer discounts to graduates of boating safety courses (check with your insurance agent for details) To find a class in your area, visit http://www.cgaux.org/cgauxweb/classes/master.shtml or call 1-800-368-5647. 

Always Wear Your Life Jacket:   It has been proven time and time again - Life jackets save lives.  Approximately 80 percent of those who perish in boating accidents drown, and of those, the overwhelming majority did not wear a life jacket.  As a boat operator, you're in command of the safety of your passengers. But accidents can, and often do happen with terrifying speed on the water. There's rarely time to reach stowed life jackets, and it is nearly impossible to put on a life jacket while you are in the water.

Today’s life jackets are lighter and more comfortable than ever before. The U.S. Coast Guard urges everyone to wear a life jacket at all times, no matter how good of a swimmer you are.  And  remember – the law requires children under the age of 13 to wear a life jacket at all times on vessels 26 feet and under, while the vessel is underway.  Some states like California, have even stricter requirements, so if your boating in waters away from your homeport, be sure to check their laws so you don’t find out the hard way. 

NEVER Boat Under the Influence:  Boating and alcohol do not mix!  It's a different world on the water.  In the marine environment — motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind, and spray intensify the effect of alcohol and drugs. These “stressors” cause fatigue — and dramatically affect a boat operator’s coordination, judgment, vision, and reaction time. Moreover, studies have found that levels of blood alcohol or medications that would have little impact on land can potentially cause a much greater degree of impairment for the operator of a boat.

Almost half of all the boating accidents in the U.S. involve alcohol in some way, shape or form.  But alcohol consumption does not affect just the operator of the vessel.  Studies have been found that you are ten times more likely to fall overboard if you’ve been drinking.  Also, in most states, conviction of a BUI (Boating Under the Influence) impacts your right to drive, and ultimately your car insurance.

So remember – let’s be careful out there!  You’re in Command, so BOAT SAFELY!
 
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