Boating Safety Week

John Sasso,Public Affairs Officer Division 22

On May 15,  the NY State Senate passed a resolution to proclaim May 19-25, 2012 as Boating Safety Week throughout the State of NY.  The resolution was sponsored by State Senators John Flanagan and Carl Marcellino of Long Island’s north shore at the bequest of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 22.

The legislative resolution memorializes Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 19-25, 2012, as Boating Safety Week in the State of New York, paralleling the Congressional resolution passed in 1958 that authorized and requested the President to proclaim the 7 day period prior to the Memorial Day weekend as National Safe Boating Week.  

Each year the US Coast Guard partners with boating organizations, including the National Safe Boating Council, to raise awareness of the importance of taking proper precautions while boating on our Nation’s waterways to avoid preventable injuries.  In 2011 boating fatalities increased 12.4% nationwide from the year before, 15 of which were in the State of NY State.  Seventy (70) percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned, and of those, eighty-four (84) percent were not reported as wearing a life jacket. Eight out of every ten boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents (16%).

As the week before the highest increase in boating traffic occurs, National Safe Boating Week is an opportunity to highlight the importance of safety precautions and sensible behavior when spending time on the water.  The Senate Resolution was presented to the Eaton’s Neck Coast Guard Station Executive Officer, Petty Officer Agostino during the Station Open House on Saturday May 19.

 The Coast Guard always reminds boaters to wear a life jacket and take a boating safety class.  The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers boating safety classes. For more information contact Terry Kinch, Vice Commander, Division 22, United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, at 631- 271-2503 or auxiliarypal@hotmail.com