Coast Guard urges boaters to use extra caution over Labor Day weekend.
The Coast Guard is urging boaters in the tri-state area to use extra caution while out on the water this Labor Day weekend, which marks the unofficial end of the traditional boating season and usually is a very busy few days on the water.
Coast Guard crews, along with local and state law enforcement agencies, will be patrolling, conducting safety checks and watching for people boating while intoxicated or operating in an unsafe manner.
The Coast Guard also will be issuing “If Found/Contact” decals to mariners. These stickers, when placed visibly on a kayak, paddle board or dinghy, help searchers contact the owner in case the item goes adrift. They can potentially save countless hours of search efforts and resources.
Boaters also are urged to consider these safety tips before leaving the dock:
It is illegal to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. There are stringent penalties for violating BUI/BWI laws, which can include large fines, suspension or revocation of boat operator privileges and jail time. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.
Leave a detailed float plan with a friend or family member who is staying back. The sooner a party can be reported overdue, the more likely there will be a positive outcome. Facts need to be quickly conveyed in an emergency. Your float plan should include information that rescue personnel need in order to find you. For examples of a float plan, visit bit. ly/FloatPlans.
Life jackets save lives. In 2017, 76 percent of all fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those, approximately 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Accidents can leave even a strong swimmer injured, unconscious or exhausted in the water.
Cellphones may lose signal offshore or run out of battery power. They are helpful but not reliable for emergencies. VHF channel 16 is the marine emergency channel. It should only be used for emergencies.
Watch for current storm advisories. The National Weather Service broadcasts marine weather forecasts regularly. Forecasts can be heard by tuning in to channels 1 to 5 on a VHF marine radio or by checking the NWS website at weather. gov.
Have a portable device to communicate an emergency on the water. In addition to a marine-band radio, boaters should have signal flares or an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) to alert first responders.