UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY NEWSLETTER

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

OPERATION BOAT SMART

BOAT SMART FROM THE START

Most boating fatalities are preventable if the boater remembers a few key safety tips before getting underway:

· NEVER DRINK AND BOAT The water is unpredictable and your judgment is impaired when you’ve consumed alcohol.

· WEAR THE PROPER LIFEJACKET A lifejacket can mean the difference between life and death. Of the 498 people who drowned in 2001, life jackets could have saved 420. Boaters are also reminded of the federal regulation requiring children under 13 of age years to wear a life jacket. State regulations vary.

. HAVE THE PROPER PFD TOOLS Having the proper gear can save your life. The flashlight whistle, signal mirror, knife, strobe, EPIRB, or dye marker you left at home won't help save your life, attach them to your PFD.

· BRING A PORTABLE MARINE VHF RADIO When an emergency arises a marine band radio set to channel “16” is your link to help.

· CHECK THE WEATHER Be aware of changes in the sky, wind and water. Head to shore when the weather begins to turn bad.

. GET A FREE VESSEL SAFETY CHECK You can request a free Vessel Safety Check by going to " I Want a VSC"

· FILE A FLOAT PLAN Tell someone where you’re going, your boat description, how many people are going with you, when you are expected to return and ways to contact you. Don’t file float plans with the Coast Guard. For more information on Float Plans go to Float Plan Central.

· TAKE A BOATING SAFETY COURSE The Coast Guard recommends that all boaters take a safety class and a refresher course every five years.

. NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK Participate in recreational boating activities that promote boating safety.

. Don't forget to check out BOAT SMART KIDS

Check out Smart Start For Paddlers and

Sports And Utility Boats (SUBs)

Click for more Helpful Hints For Boating Safely

We Need You -- The Coast Guard Auxiliary is called upon to provide essential services to the Coast Guard as they focus more heavily on their military missions. We need all the help we can get. You needn't own a boat or be an experienced boater, since our missions are wide-ranging. For information about Auxiliary missions and the Auxiliary in general, go to our Join the Auxiliary web page. You will find there a form through which you can ask that a local Auxiliarist make contact with you to explore the ways in which you can assist Team Coast Guard. To learn more go to Charting Your Course in the USCG Auxiliary.

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