Connecticut DEP Announces Safe Boating Week
The official start of the boating season is finally here! Gas prices are lower this season and the number of registered boats are already back up to over 112,000 boats from last year’s drop to about 100,000 boats.
Governor M. Jodi Rell wants to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend on the water safely. The Week of May 16-22, 2009 has been proclaimed as National Safe Boating Week in Connecticut and is Governor Rell is officially urging boaters to wear their life jackets in support of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) new life jacket wear campaign: "Get It On Connecticut – Wear It" and the North American Safe Boating Campaign to promote safe boating habits.
The Governor recognized the US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the US Power Squadrons as important partners with the DEP in helping boaters to make safe and responsible boating choices while on the water.
Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette says, "Boaters and their families should dress for the water temperature and not for the air temperature especially if operating in small open boats. Stability issues such as falling out of the boat and capsizing are responsible for more than 70% of the fatal accidents in Connecticut. Most victims were not wearing life jackets. The DEP recommends that boaters always wear their life jackets to make their boating experience more pleasureable. Choose to be safe while on Connecticut waters."
Boaters should move cautiously about their boats and ensure they have three points of contact with the boat. Falling out of the boat into cold water without a life jacket increases the odds of tragic consequences.
All boaters operating a registered boat must possess a Boating Safety Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Check the DEP website for classes near you.
All the partners provide Vessel Safety Checks free of charge. Stickers are provided to those boats that have all the required federal safety equipment. The DEP provides these checks at many state boat launches.
For your convenience appointments for trailered boats can be made by contacting the DEP at 860 434-8638. The USPS and USCG Auxiliary conduct Vessel Safety Checks on all size recreational vessels. You can find local squadrons and flotillas on the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep/boating.
The official start of the boating season is finally here! Gas prices are lower this season and the number of registered boats are already back up to over 112,000 boats from last year’s drop to about 100,000 boats.
Governor M. Jodi Rell wants to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend on the water safely. The Week of May 16-22, 2009 has been proclaimed as National Safe Boating Week in Connecticut and is Governor Rell is officially urging boaters to wear their life jackets in support of the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP’s) new life jacket wear campaign: "Get It On Connecticut – Wear It" and the North American Safe Boating Campaign to promote safe boating habits.
The Governor recognized the US Coast Guard, US Coast Guard Auxiliary and the US Power Squadrons as important partners with the DEP in helping boaters to make safe and responsible boating choices while on the water.
Deputy Commissioner Susan Frechette says, "Boaters and their families should dress for the water temperature and not for the air temperature especially if operating in small open boats. Stability issues such as falling out of the boat and capsizing are responsible for more than 70% of the fatal accidents in Connecticut. Most victims were not wearing life jackets. The DEP recommends that boaters always wear their life jackets to make their boating experience more pleasureable. Choose to be safe while on Connecticut waters."
Boaters should move cautiously about their boats and ensure they have three points of contact with the boat. Falling out of the boat into cold water without a life jacket increases the odds of tragic consequences.
All boaters operating a registered boat must possess a Boating Safety Certificate or Certificate of Personal Watercraft Operation. Check the DEP website for classes near you.
All the partners provide Vessel Safety Checks free of charge. Stickers are provided to those boats that have all the required federal safety equipment. The DEP provides these checks at many state boat launches.
For your convenience appointments for trailered boats can be made by contacting the DEP at 860 434-8638. The USPS and USCG Auxiliary conduct Vessel Safety Checks on all size recreational vessels. You can find local squadrons and flotillas on the DEP website at www.ct.gov/dep/boating.