Date: July 1, 2008 

Contact: Ninth District Public Affairs Office
(216) 902-6020 office
(216) 310-2608 cell

 USCG PROMOTES BOATING SAFETY ON JULY 4TH WEEKEND

CLEVELAND - The Ninth Coast Guard District reminds all boaters of the three C's of boating safety as we approach the July 4th holiday and weekend.

Boaters should use "caution" when operating their vessel, be "courteous" to other boaters on the water, and use "common sense" on the water.

Ninth Coast Guard District statistics for calendar year 2007 show: 

• There were 115 lives lost reported, up from 90 the previous year.
• More than a third of lives lost on the Great Lakes were between 6 p.m. and midnight.
• Approximately 35 percent of lives lost were less than one nautical mile from shore. 
• Fifty-two percent of lives lost occurred in summer.
• Approximately 20 percent of all loss of life cases was the result of boating under the influence.

All boaters should:

• Have a sober operator - DON'T operate a boat under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.  Alcohol and drugs affect judgment, vision, balance and coordination.  The marine environment - motion, vibration, engine noise, sun, wind and spray - accelerates a drinker's impairment; and decreases coordination, judgment and reaction time.
• Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or personal floatation device at all times.  The law requires you to have a PFD on-board for each passenger; the Coast Guard recommends all occupants wear a PFD at all times.  The worse time to look for a PFD or life jacket is when you are already in distress.
• Have a marine-band radio.  If you are in distress, you can reach the Coast Guard on marine band channel 16, the distress channel.  Use of a cell phone could provide rescuers with a false location of your vessel.
• Have a float plan.  File a float plan with someone who is not getting underway with you and stick to the plan.  If you change plans, contact the person.  A float plan assists responders in the search of an overdue boater that is in distress.
• Report any suspicious activity on the water to the U.S. Coast Guard or local marine authorities.  "If you see something, say something."

"The Coast Guard will put extra emphasis on boating safety this Fourth of July weekend," said Rear Adm. Peter V. Neffenger, commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District.  "I ask all Great Lakes boaters to help us prevent accidents, injuries and fatalities.  Wear your life jacket and use courtesy and common sense on the water."

For more boating information, go to http://www.uscgboating.org/.

CLICK HERE for the location of safety and security zones established on the Great Lakes/Ninth District. 

For media inquiries or additional boating safety information, contact your local Coast Guard unit or the Ninth District Public Affairs Office at (216) 902-6020.

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