Imagery Available: Coast Guard kicks off National Safe Boating Week 2018

News Release

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

Coast Guard kicks off National Safe Boating Week 2018

 

Editors Note: To view or download these and other images click on the photos above.

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

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

“The campaign is now in its 60^th year of promoting the importance of safe boating,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jon Paul DelGaudio, director of auxiliary and recreational boating safety for the Coast Guard 14th District. “Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your chances of survival during an emergency situation. Coast Guard Auxiliary crewmembers throughout the district will be holding various events throughout the week including vessel safety checks, life jacket fittings, and public information booths.”

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 2016, drowning was the reported cause of death in three-fourths of recreational boating fatalities, and 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. Coast Guard statistics for 2017 have not been released yet.

Which Coast Guard-approved life jacket do you need? Take the interactive safe boating campaign quiz to find out: http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/quiz/

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

Location	Event	Date/Time
Honolulu – West Marine	Vessel safety checks	Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Honolulu – Kaneohe Bay Yacht Club	Public information booth	Sunday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Hilo, Hawai’i – Walmart	Public information booth	Sunday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Lahaina, Maui – Mala Wharf	Vessel safety Checks	Saturday, May 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Guam – Agana Shopping Center	Public information booth	Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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