Sunny & Beautiful in the PNW on Lake Union for the Fourth!
PNW Boaters, please use extra caution while boating during this extra hot summer season. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is urging all boaters to be aware of the risks associated with boating on 4th of July, along with Memorial Day and Labor Day, as those three typically account for more than one-third of all boating related accidents and fatalities.
Given the dangers often faced, the Coast Guard Auxiliary offers seven tips to stay safe while boating during this busy summer holiday:
- Always wear a life jacket: No matter how hot it is outside, don’t be tempted to forgo wearing a life jacket. Accidents happen quickly, and often there isn’t time to put on a life jacket once an accident has already happened. Statistics consistently show that 80 percent of those who perished in boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. Don’t be a statistic.
Don’t Forget a Lifejacket
- Always be prepared for emergencies. Since accidents happen quickly, often with little or no warning, take the time to familiarize your crew with basic emergency procedures, and show them how to contact authorities for help via marine radio or cell phone. If you boat in an area that requires flares, make sure they are up to date, but never use flares as a form of fireworks. Doing so constitutes a false distress call, which is a class D felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines, plus the cost associated with the false distress. It’s just not worth it.
- Make sure your boat is truly properly equipped and that required equipment is functioning properly. The 4th of July is sometimes the first and only time many people venture out on the water after dark. Make sure your navigation lights work so you can be seen. You can also request a free Vessel Safety Check to make sure your boat has all the legally required and recommended equipment onboard.
- File a “Float Plan” with a friend. Don’t file this with the Coast Guard; rather, share it with a friend who will be staying ashore, and instruct them what to do in the event that they don’t hear from you within a reasonable time of when you expect to return home. A float plan for a boater is similar to a flight plan for a pilot. It lists who is going, where you’re going, what the boat looks like, and when you expect to be back. Visit http://floatplancentral.org/ for a complete plan along with instructions.
Boating Buzzed is Bad Business
- Boating and alcohol do not mix! Along with decreasing the operator’s ability to make good judgments, the consumption of alcohol also negatively affects the ability of passengers to respond in the case of an emergency on the water. The effects of the sun, wind, waves and a boat’s motion in the water can add to an operator’s impairment. Intoxicated or otherwise inebriated boaters can face both federal and state charges with penalties of up to one year in prison and up to $100,000 in fines. Going into a cell is no way to celebrate freedom.
- Practice the 3 Big C’s – caution, courtesy, and common sense. Be courteous to your fellow boaters, and use common sense. Use caution, especially in close quarter maneuvering situations with other boats. In such situations, slow speeds are better. Don’t cut people off at the launch ramp, and never, EVER light fireworks from your boat!
Caution, Courtesy, and Common Sense – The Three Big C’s
- Keep a sharp lookout for other boats, the weather, or anything that is unusual: The Coast Guard asks the public to be more aware of their surroundings, including carefully watching the weather, celebrating responsibly and understanding the hazards of boating under the influence of alcohol and misusing emergency flares as fireworks.
Follow these tips, or risk death, dismemberment, or worse- detainment. With great powerboats come great responsibilities, after all.
Stay Safe Out There on the Water This Summer!
