This week, U.S. Coast Guard officials are reminding Alaska boaters to practice water safety as part of National Safe Boating Week, a public awareness effort in advance of Memorial Day weekend.
“National Safe Boating Week is an important time to focus on safe boating practices," said Michael Folkerts, the recreational boating safety specialist for the 17th Coast Guard District. "As boaters, we often don’t recognize the dangers of sudden cold-water immersion, or know how best to survive a fall overboard or capsizing."
There were 14 boating accidents with seven injuries and 11 deaths in Alaska in 2019, according to the agency.
USCG encourages boaters to wear a life jacket (a requirement for Alaska boaters), be proactive with skills-based training and knowledge, check safety equipment and weather forecast, bring various forms of communication devices and wear an engine cut-off switch link.
For more information, visit www.uscgboating.org.
