May 17-23: National Safe Boating Week
National Safe Boating Week is May 17-23, and it's making waves along Bay County's coast, as officials remind boaters to gear up for safety before heading out on the water.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials invited the News Herald on May 13 for a ride-along patrol to showcase boating best practices and scenic views of the coastline. The voyage started at the Panama City Marina, cruised by Sandy Point and St. Andrews State Park, and turned around near Captain Anderson's Marina.
Christopher Boley, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's public information officer, said not only is the week about gearing up all the necessary safety equipment, but it's also to read the U.S. Coast Guard's navigational rules.
"Even if you were born before 1988, that's when you're required to have a boater safety ID card," Boley said from Panama City's Marina. "If you've never had any sort of formal, boating training, please find a course. They're free online."
Boley added that last year, over half of the fatality boating accidents that occurred, it was found the operators had no sort of formal voter education.
Required safety gear:
Life jackets for everyone on board;
Sound producing device (i.e. horn or whistle);
Fire extinguisher;
Visual distress signal (i.e. flare);
Throwable device (i.e. life ring, seat cushion)
"Life jackets truly do save lives, and so does all that safety equipment," Boley said. "So, it's important that everyone on board knows where all that safety gear is. Because in emergencies, whether it's due to weather, a boating accident, anything like that, seconds matter."
With the summer boating surge just around the corner, National Safe Boating Week serves as a reminder to wear it, pack it, check it, and read about it.
For more information about boater requirements and safety, go to https://myfwc.com/boating/
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: From shoreline to dock, summer boaters should review state and national rules
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