Wednesday, May 14, 2003
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Wednesday, May 14, 2003 |
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Perdue proclaims Safe Boating Week Governor Sonny Perdue recently proclaimed May 17-23 as National Safe Boating Week, a campaign that encourages people to wear life jackets at all times when in and around the water. Life jackets have proven time and again that they can save lives when they are worn. Last year in Georgia 46 people drowned on waterways according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. The majority of these deaths could have been prevented if the person had been wearing a life jacket before they went in the water. "The message is simple life jackets save lives," said WRD Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement Lt. Col. Terry West. "Accidents can happen in a split second and those not wearing life jackets have a much greater chance of drowning." According to Georgia law, all boats, regardless of length, must be equipped with a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board the boat. All boats, except Class A vessels (less than 16 feet in length), personal watercrafts, canoes and kayaks, also must carry one throwable floatation device per person. Children under age 10 must wear a properly fitted and fastened life jacket at all times when the boat is moving, unless the child is in a fully enclosed cabin or other fully enclosed roof compartment or structure of the vessel. Adults are not required to wear a life jacket, but lifejackets must be present and readily accessible for each person on the boat. While this law applies only to public waters, not to private ponds or lakes, WRD still encourages people to wear life jackets at all times. "When choosing a life jacket, find one that fits and also matches your type of boating activity. Manufacturers now offer a variety of shapes, colors, sizes and materials that are comfortable and attractive," said West. "No matter which type of life jacket someone chooses, the most important thing is to wear the life jacket when on the water. It can't save your life if you don't wear it." The National Safe Boating Campaign, the United States Coast Guard and the National Association of Boating Law Administrators sponsor National Safe Boating Week. For more information on National Safe Boating Week or boating safety in Georgia, visit www.goboatgeorgia.com or contact the local WRD Law Enforcement Office.
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