Coast Guard kick off National Safe Boating Week 2017 in Hawaii

News Release

May 19, 2017 U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific Contact: 14th District Public Affairs Office: (808) 535-3230 After Hours: (808) 341-9849

Coast Guard kick off National Safe Boating Week 2017 in Hawaii

HONOLULU — The annual National Safe Boating Week safety campaign kicks off nationwide, Saturday.

Coast Guard Auxiliary flotillas throughout the Main Hawaiian Islands will host events to highlight the importance of boating safety throughout the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend.

“Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chances of survival during an emergency situation," said Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Auth, director of auxiliary and recreational boating safety for the Coast Guard 14th District. “The Coast Guard Auxiliary on Oahu will be employing their new mobile life jacket loaner station, which will allow members of the public to borrow life jackets as they need them.”

The mobile life jacket loaner station will be available for the public at Maunalua Bay Beach Park in Hawaii Kai, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Saturday is also the Ready, Set, Wear It! Life Jacket World Record Day, when thousands of people from around the world will attempt to set the world record for the most life jackets worn and inflatable life jackets inflated on one day in an effort to raise awareness about the importance of wearing a life jacket.

In 2015, drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities, and 85 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. Coast Guard statistics for 2016 have not been released yet.

The following is a list of scheduled events and open houses coinciding with National Safe Boating Week:

 

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