North American Safe Boating Campaign

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The Safe Boating Campaign is a year-round campaign focused on spreading the message of boating safety, encouraging boater education, and helping to save lives. It kicks off each year the full week before Memorial Day Weekend with National Safe Boating Week, with focused efforts during the peak boating season of May – September. Promoting life jacket wear by every boater is the leading goal of the Campaign. [1] [2]

Boating leisure activity involving boats

Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels, focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing. It is a popular activity, and there are millions of boaters worldwide.

Memorial Day United States federal holiday remembering those who died in military service

Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering and honoring the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. The holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. Memorial Day was observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.

Personal flotation device

A personal flotation device is a piece of equipment designed to assist a wearer to keep afloat in water. The wearer may be either conscious or unconscious.

Contents

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2008

Created in 1958 as National Safe Boating Week, the official entrance of Canada in 2000 transformed the event into a larger, international campaign known as North American Safe Boating Campaign. The Campaign is a core program of the National Safe Boating Council. [3] [4]

National Safe Boating Council

The National Safe Boating Council is a membership organization with over 500 U.S. and International members committed to reducing boating accidents and enhancing the boating experience. The Council is committed to providing education and training programs to promote a safe recreational boating experience.

History

The North American Boating Campaign was originally known as “Safe Boating Week,” observed by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as a Courtesy Examination weekend in Amesburg, Massachusetts in June 1952. This tradition continued until 1957 when an official National Safe Boating Week observation took place sponsored by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in various parts of the country. [5]

As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared a Resolution, and on June 4, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed PL 85-445, to establish National Safe Boating Week as the first week starting on the first Sunday in June. [3] [6] The National Safe Boating Week Committee, now known as the National Safe Boating Council, organized the event by coordinating efforts among the various boating safety groups. [7]

In 1995, the date for National Safe Boating Week was finally changed to the full week (Saturday – Friday) before Memorial Day Weekend each year. This allowed the message of safe boating to reach more boaters before the season and enforce the message for a longer amount of time each year. [1] [2] The official entrance of Canada in 2000 transformed National Safe Boating Week into a larger, international event with partnerships with the Canadian Safe Boating Council and Canadian Coast Guard. National Safe Boating Week now serves as the kick off for the North American Safe Boating Campaign, a year-round campaign that is focused during the summer months of May – September. [8]

Canada Country in North America

Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres, making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Its southern border with the United States, stretching some 8,891 kilometres (5,525 mi), is the world's longest bi-national land border. Canada's capital is Ottawa, and its three largest metropolitan areas are Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

Programs

The Campaign provides the public with education and information about safe boating. Through press releases, public service announcements, informational campaign mailers, and other efforts, the Campaign is able to reach a wide range of individuals with boating safety materials. This information is intended to enhance and supplement groups, associations and organizations boating safety campaigns across the United States and Canada during National Safe Boating Week. [9]

Throughout the years, the Campaign has strengthened and worked to gain more national attention across the U.S. In 2006, “Wear It!” became the official slogan of the campaign. [1] Routine and consistent life jacket wear during all water activities can make the difference between life and death. According to the U.S. Coast Guard: [10]

In 2007, The Delta region in Sacramento, California was chosen to be the first targeted area in the U.S. for campaign efforts. As a result, life jacket wear rate increased from a baseline measurement of 6.2 percent to 12.2 percent in this area due to the intense marketing of a focused “Wear It!” campaign and the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Safe Boating Council, Boat U.S. Foundation, and the California Department of Boating and Waterways. [11] [12]

The National Safe Boating Council decided to continue this targeted approach in 2008, adding Tennessee to its efforts in addition to a general campaign across the country. [13] In 2009, a third state was included – “Wear It Michigan!” began its own campaign using its law enforcement personnel to educate about the boating safety message. [14]

Partner Organizations

The National Safe Boating Council is joined by partner organizations in supporting the Campaign such as Boat U.S. Foundation, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Canadian Safe Boating Council, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and U.S. Power Squadrons. [15]

Logos

Over time, the campaign logo has changed to reflect a newer, more comfortable life jacket in conjunction with the current trends of boating. Although the logo and slogan have changed over the years – the message has always been clear – by boating safely and wearing your life jacket, boating can be a fun and safe activity. [1] [9]

Related Research Articles

United States Coast Guard Coastal defense, search & rescue, and law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coastal defense, search & rescue, and maritime law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's seven uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the U.S. military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, and can be transferred to the U.S. Department of the Navy by the U.S. President at any time, or by the U.S. Congress during times of war. This has happened twice: in 1917, during World War I, and in 1941, during World War II.

Canadian Coast Guard government agency

The Canadian Coast Guard is the coast guard of Canada. Formed in 1962, the coast guard is tasked with marine search and rescue, communication, navigation and transportation issues in Canadian waters, such as navigation aids and icebreaking, marine pollution response and providing support for other Canadian government initiatives. The coast guard operates 119 vessels of varying sizes and 22 helicopters, along with a variety of smaller craft. The Canadian Coast Guard is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, and is a special operating agency within Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteer auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Congress established the unit on June 23, 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve. On February 19, 1941, the organization was re-designated as the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary exists to support all USCG missions except roles that require "direct" law enforcement or military engagement. As of 2018, there were approximately 24,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

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Philippine Coast Guard Coast guard of the Philippines

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is an armed and uniformed service tasked primarily with enforcing laws within Philippine waters, conducting maritime security operations, safeguarding life and property at sea, and protecting marine environment and resources; similar to coast guards around the world. The Coast Guard also serves as an attached service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in wartime.

Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary

The Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary is a Canada-wide volunteer marine association dedicated to marine search and rescue (SAR) and the promotion of boating safety, through association with the Canadian Coast Guard under the auspices of Canada's National Search and Rescue Program.

The United States Power Squadrons (USPS) DBA America's Boating Club, is a non-profit educational organization, founded in 1914, whose mission is to improve maritime safety and enjoyability through classes in seamanship, navigation, and other related subjects. The USPS comprises approximately 45,000 members organized into 450 squadrons across the United States and in some US territories. It is the largest U.S. non-profit boating organization and has been honored by three U.S. presidents for its civic contributions. Its official publication is The Ensign magazine.

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Nautical tourism

Nautical tourism is tourism that combines sailing and boating with vacation and holiday activities. It can be travelling from port to port in a cruise ship, or joining boat-centered events such as regattas or landing a small boat for lunch or other day recreation at specially prepared day boat-landings. It is a form of tourism that is generally more popular in the summertime.

Diver down flag Flag signal indicating divers are in the water nearby

A diver down flag, or scuba flag, is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below. Two styles of flag are in use. Internationally, the code flag alfa/alpha, which is white and blue, is used to signal that the vessel has a diver down and other vessels should keep well clear at slow speed. In North America it is conventionally red with a white stripe from the upper left corner to the lower right corner.

Americas Waterway Watch

America's Waterway Watch (AWW) is a program of the United States Coast Guard and its Reserve and Auxiliary components to encourage members of the public to be on the alert for suspicious behavior by boaters. As part of an effort to tighten security after the September 11 attacks of 2001, people involved in the maritime industry and recreational boating were encouraged by the Coast Guard to report suspicious activity to the National Response Center. In 2005, Coast Guard Commandant Thomas H. Collins issued Commandant Instruction 16618.8, formalizing the program as America's Waterway Watch.

The number of personal watercraft-related accidents has increased with the popularity of personal watercraft (PWC) since their introduction during the late 1960s. The use of the term "jet ski" for all types of PWCs is a misnomer; Jet Ski is a registered trademark in the United States for a line of PWCs manufactured by Kawasaki). With the increased use of personal watercraft since their inception, the hazards accompanying their use have also increased. According to U.S. government reports, most accidents are associated with rental operators, underage operators, under-trained and undereducated boaters and a variety of factors associated with recreational-boating accidents. Due to their affordability, ease of use, and relatively low transportation and maintenance costs, personal watercraft have significantly increased the number of water-based enthusiasts in the U.S. This rise in participation has created conflicts between the various boating segments in the U.S. and a need for additional boater education. Recreational-boating accidents are the second-largest transportation-related cause of injury in the U.S..

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Water safety is the procedures, precautions and policies associated with safety in, on and around bodies of water, where there is a risk of injury or drowning. It has applications in several occupations, sports and recreational activities.

USCGC <i>Robert Yered</i> (WPC-1104) US Coast Guard cutter

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Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police

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The history of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary began in 1939. From its formation, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has been supporting the United States Coast Guard. The Auxiliary works within the Coast Guard in carrying out its noncombatant and non-law enforcement missions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "NSBC celebrates 50 years" (PDF). North American Safe Boating Campaign. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  2. 1 2 “H.R.2150”. The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/index.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  3. 1 2 “National Safe Boating Week – Why?”. Atlantic Maritime Academy. http://www.atlanticmaritimeacademy.com/bringingithomesafely09.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  4. ↑ “Wear It! Campaign”. North American Safe Boating Campaign. http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  5. ↑ “About the Auxiliary”. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. http://www.cgaux.org/. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  6. ↑ “Public Law 85-445”. The Library of Congress. https://www.loc.gov/index.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  7. ↑ “Proclamation 6570 – National Safe Boating Week, 1993”. The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=62435. Retrieved 2009-07-29.
  8. ↑ “Wear It! Campaign”. North American Safe Boating Campaign. http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com. Retrieved 2009-07-29
  9. 1 2 "FAQs". North American Safe Boating Campaign. Archived from the original on 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  10. ↑ “Statistics”. U.S. Coast Guard. http://www.uscgboating.org/statistics/stats.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  11. ↑ “About the Campaign – Delta Campaign’’. Wear It California. http://www.wearitcalifornia.com/ca-delta.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  12. ↑ “Wear It Marketing Campaign Designed to Increase Life Jacket Wear Rates Achieves Positive Results”. North American Safe Boating Campaign.
  13. ↑ “About the Campaign – Welcome”. Wear It Tennessee. http://www.wearittennessee.com/. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  14. ↑ “Welcome – About the Campaign”. Wear It Michigan. http://www.wearitmichigan.com/mi-welcome.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  15. ↑ “Wear It Contacts – Campaign Partners”. North American Safe Boating Campaign. http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/partners.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
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