DEM Environmental Police Officers to Conduct Boating Safety Inspections and Give Tokens for a Free Del's Lemonade to Children Wearing Life Jackets
PROVIDENCE - Environmental police officers from the Department of Environmental Management's Division of Law enforcement and boating safety advocates across the US and Canada are teaming up during National Safe Boating Week to promote safe and responsible boating and urge boaters to wear life jackets each and every time they are on the water.
National Safe Boating Week, May 16-22, marks the official launch of the 2015 North American safe boating campaign. This year-long campaign promotes safe and responsible boating and the value of voluntary life jacket wear by recreational boaters through the national theme, Wear It! In addition, the campaign reminds boaters of the importance of boating safely, boating sober, knowing navigational rules and having a proper lookout. Campaign partners will teach classes, distribute educational materials, and perform vessel safety checks.
DEM environmental police officers, in partnership with Del's Lemonade, will be conducting boating safety inspections throughout the year-long campaign and giving out tokens for a free Del's lemonade to children wearing their life jackets. Rhode Island boating regulations require children under the age of 13 to always wear a life jacket.
U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in almost three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities in 2013, and that 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. That's why boating safety advocates continue to push for increased and consistent life jacket wear on the water.
According to Lieutenant Steven Criscione, boating safety coordinator for DEM's Division of Law Enforcement, "The key to safe boating is the life jacket. A person who suffers swimming failure or loss of consciousness will stay afloat wearing a life jacket, but will drown without one." Lt. Criscione urges boaters to wear a life jacket from the time they enter the boat until they return to shore. "There is no time to put a life jacket on before a boating accident," Criscione noted. "It would be like trying to buckle your seat belt before a car crash."
"Each year hundreds of people lose their lives, and they may still be alive if they had been wearing a life jacket," said John Johnson, chief executive officer of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators. "You never know when there may be a boating mishap, so it's important that everyone onboard always wears a life jacket."
Life Jacket Facts
Today's Life Jacket: Style, Variety and Comfort
Most boaters know they're required to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket on board for every passenger on their boat. Boating safety advocates recommend that all boaters and passengers not only have a life jacket, but 'Wear It!' at all times while boating. Accidents on the water can happen much too fast to reach and put on a stowed life jacket.
The good news is that today's life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight and stylish than the bulky orange style most boaters know. Life jackets that use inflatable technologies are cool and comfortable. They may resemble a pair of suspenders or a belt pack. Many inflate automatically when immersed in water.
Other life jacket styles are available for almost any boating activity.
For fishing: Vest-style life jackets come with features such as pockets and clips to replace the fishing vest and keep the angler safe.
For personal watercraft and water sports: Inherently buoyant lighter-weight life jackets are rugged, with multiple buckles and clasps to keep them secure after impact with the water. For hunting and cold weather: Full coats and suits are available in camouflage colors for waterfowl hunting and for those who boat when air and water temperatures are cool.
For paddling: Special life jackets are designed with large openings for arms to allow ease of movement and there are belt style life jackets worn on the waist.
For children: Virtually all styles available are sized especially for children - some with cartoon characters, straps for pulling children from the water and high-visibility schemes.
For pets: Life jackets are even available for our four-legged friends. It's helpful to purchase one with a handle on top to easily pull your pet out of the water, if needed.
No matter what the activity or style chosen, the most important thing is this: Remember to grab a life jacket and 'Wear It!'
Important Safety Reminders
Make sure your life jacket is U.S. Coast Guard approved. Double check that your life jacket is appropriate for your favorite water activities. Take the time to ensure a proper fit. A life jacket that is too large or too small can cause different situational problems. Life jackets meant for adults do not work for children. If you are boating with children, make sure they are wearing properly fitted, child-sized life jackets. Do not buy a life jacket for your child to "grow into." On recreational boats underway in Rhode Island, children under 13 years old must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin.
For more information on Rhode Island specific boating laws and regulations including the mandatory boating safety education requirement and certification process, please visit: http://www.dem.ri.gov/topics/boating.htm or contact the Department of Environmental Management/Environmental Police at 401-222-2284.
Wear It! unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates, including the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and Canadian Safe Boating Council with the National Safe Boating Council. It is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Follow Wear It! on Twitter at @boatingcampaign, like the campaign on Facebook at facebook.com/safeboatcampaign, and share your boating story at safeboatingcampaign.com.