USCGA Safe Boating Week

The creative spark for National Safe Boating Week was lit in 1952, in what is today, District 1NR, by vessel examiner, Stephen Sadowski. It was an effort to stimulate vessel examinations. The idea caught on, encouraged by the Coast Guard, and a safe boating week was observed on a limited basis by individual units of the Auxiliary. The first national observance, sponsored by the Auxiliary, took place in 1957.

On June 4, 1958, Public Law 85-455 authorized President Eisenhower to proclaim the week including July Fourth as “National Safe Boating Week.” In later years, the date was changed to the second week of June and then to the first full week in June. In 1995, as authorized by Congress, the date for this one-week event was moved to the seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day weekend, the start of the traditional boating season in most areas.

At first, National Safe Boating Week was observed throughout the United States and its possessions. Because of the efforts of the National Safe Boating Council, a year-long “North American Safe Boating Campaign,” has evolved, which includes National Safe Boating Week. The event is celebrated not only in the U.S. but also in Canada.

The campaign is produced under a grant from the Aquatic Resources (Wallop/Breau) Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The National Safe Boating Council produces a campaign kit each year under a grant from the Fund, containing safe boating materials and information for promotion through the media and with the boating public. The kit is distributed to the Auxiliary, the U.S. Power Squadrons and other boating organizations. Again this year, the slogan for the campaign is “Boat Smart. Boat Safe. Wear It!” The emphasis is on boating responsibly and wearing a life jacket when aboard.

There are valid reasons for the Auxiliary’s strong participation in the National Safe Boating Week event: providing awareness and information about safe boating, encouraging in-depth boating safety education and being visible in our role as volunteers in the cause of safe boating.

Some 2005 Quick Facts:

In 2005, States and jurisdictions reported a total of 12,942,414 registered
recreational boats compared to 12,781,476 in 2004. The 4,969 boating
accidents reported in 2005 resulted in 697 fatalities, 3,451 injuries, and
$38,721,088 in property damage.
Approximately seventy percent of all fatal boating accident victims
drowned (491 out of 697). Moreover, eighty-seven (87) percent of the victims
who drowned were not wearing their personal flotation device (PFD or
lifejacket). Overall, fatal accident data show approximately 426 lives could
have been saved last year if boaters had worn their lifejackets.
The most reported type of accident was a collision with another vessel.
However, capsizing and falls overboard are the most reported types of fatal
accidents and accounted for the vast majority (59%) of all boating fatalities.
Boat operators need to pay attention to the capacity label on their boat and be careful not to overload small boats (less than 16 feet) with passengers and/or gear.
Overall, carelessness/reckless operation, operator inattention, excessive
speed and operator inexperience are the leading contributing factors of all
reported accidents.
The number of reported non-fatal injuries (1,007) involving PWC use
increased for the first time since 1996.
Twenty-one (21) children age 12 and under lost their lives while boating
in 2005 compared to 14 children in 2004.
Approximately 70% of all reported fatalities occurred on boats where the
operator had not received boating safety instruction.
Alcohol use was either a direct or indirect contributing factor in
approximately one-quarter of all boating fatalities in 2005.

For more information on how to promote boating safety
see our Auxiliary Partner's webpage.