MIAMI — Coast Guardsmen, along with members of various local agencies, are scheduled to conduct Operation Dry Water throughout Florida, Georgia and South Carolina over the upcoming weekend.
The mission of Operation Dry Water is to reduce the number of alcohol-related accidents and fatalities through increased recreational boater awareness and by fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol use on the water.
According to the Coast Guard’s 2015 Recreational Boating Statistics, alcohol was the cause of 260 boating accidents, 91 deaths, and 228 injuries last year.
Coast Guard crews will partner with members of local agencies to increase patrols and ensure boaters are not operating under the influence. Anyone found operating a boat under the influence will face penalties including fines and arrest.
The Coast Guard offers the following tips for boaters planning on going out on the water:
- Check the weather before going out. If weather conditions do not seem favorable, it is highly advised boaters reconsider their plans until weather improves. Check weather conditions in your area at the following site: http://www.weather.gov/
- Boaters should ensure their vessel is seaworthy prior to going out. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free vessel safety checks. Visit the following site for more information: http://cgaux.org/vsc/
- Lifejackets can greatly increase chances of survival in the event of a man overboard. Lifejackets come in different styles, shapes, and colors. Information on lifejackets can be found here: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/inflate.htm
- Have a VHF Radio. Boaters are urged to use VHF radios for their primary means of communication. Cell phones are recommended, but should only be used as a back-up emergency communication device. Cell phone signals can be weak and unreliable offshore. For more information on VHF radios, visit the following link: http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/082000a.htm
- Boaters are urged to purchase and register an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. An EPIRB is a device which, when activated, sends a distress signal to a satellite. This can help rescue crews pinpoint a person's location in the event of an emergency. A PLB, personal locator beacon, is also recommended. PLB’s function like EPIRB's, but are smaller and can be worn on clothes or a lifejacket. For more information on EPIRB's, visit: http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html
To view Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s 2015 statistics, visit: http://myfwc.com/boating/safety-education/accidents/
To view the Coast Guard’s 2015 boating safety statistics, visit: http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boat...
For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit: http://www.operationdrywater.org/
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