Public Information Statement
To: subscribers:
- family of services
- NOAA weather wire service
- emergency managers weather information network
- noaaport
other NWS partners and NWS employees
From: mark tew
chief... marine and coastal weather services branch
Subject: National safe boating week - may 18-24 2013
The National Weather Service and the National safe boating Council
will partner for National safe boating week may 18-24. The week
will highlight relevant weather and safety-specific public service
announcements for the recreational boating public. Topics will
include:
/Sat 5-18/ ... the use of life jackets...
Before you and your family get out on the water this year... grab a
life jacket and "wear it!" Nearly 85 percent of those who drown
while boating were not wearing a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket
is one of the most effective and simple life-saving strategies for
safe recreational boating. Boaters are required to have a U.S. Coast
Guard-approved life jacket on board for every passenger on their
vessel.
/Sun 5-19/ ... vessel safety checks...
This boating season... make sure that you take advantage of the
vessel safety check /vsc/... program - a free... no risk service
provided in your area by the US Coast Guard auxiliary and the US
power squadrons. A qualified vessel examiner will conduct an
inspection of all the required safety equipment carried or installed
on a vessel and certain aspects of the vessel`s overall condition.
Even if you pay careful attention to safety... dangerous mechanical
problems can crop up on the best-maintained boat. That`s why the
U.S. Coast Guard recommends that all recreational boats /including
personal watercraft/ get a free vsc each year.
/Mon 5-20/ ... the use of epirbs /emergency position indicating radio
beacons/...
Emergency beacons... throughthe worldwide offered service
ofcospas-sarsat... aid in the detection... location and search and
Rescue /sar/ of boats... aircraft... and people in distress.Beacons
designed for SHIPS and boats are called emergency position
indicating radio beacons /epirbs/. When activated manually or
automatically upon immersion... epirbs send outdistress signals...
which are monitored worldwide by satellites. Except for the expense
of buying a Beacon... this system is free. For additional safe
boating... some personal locator beacons /plbs/ are designed for use
in water and may be attached to life vests. All 406 mhz beacons
should be registered with NOAA. Additional information for emergency
beacons can be found atwww.Sarsat.NOAA.Gov.
/Tue 5-21/ ... understanding a marine forecast...
Understanding a marine forecast is critical to safe boating. Weather
and wave conditions can change suddenly... catching boaters off guard
and creating life threatening conditions. Take particular note of
any current advisories and warnings... including small craft
advisories... gale or storm warnings which alert mariners to either
high winds or waves occurring now or forecast to occur up to 24
hours from now. Before setting out... obtain the latest marine
forecast and warning information from www.Weather.Gov/marine or NOAA
Weather Radio. Several days ahead of time you can begin listening
for extended outlooks which give general information out to the next
five days in both graphical and text format.
/Wed 5-22/ ... hypothermia...
Hypothermia is a condition in which body core temperature drops
below the required temperature for normal metabolism and body
functions... which is defined as 95 degrees. If exposed to cold the
internal mechanisms are unable to replenish the heat that is being
lost... and a drop in core temperature occurs. As body temperature
decreases... characteristic symptoms occur such as shivering and
mental confusion. Heat is lost more quickly in water than on land.
Water temperatures that would be quite reasonable as outdoor air
temperatures can lead to hypothermia. A water temperature of 50
degrees often leads to death in one hour... and water temperatures
hovering at freezing can lead to death in as little as 15 minutes.
Water at a seemingly warm temperature of 79 degrees will... after
prolonged exposure... lead to hypothermia.
/Thu 5-23/ ... thunderstorm safety...
Thunderstorms can be a mariner`s worst nightmare. They can develop
quickly and create dangerous wind and wave conditions. Thunderstorms
can bring shifting and gusty winds... lightning... waterspouts... and
torrential downpours which can turn a day`s pleasure into a
nightmare of distress. A lightning strike to a vessel can be
catastrophic... especially if it results in a fire or loss of
electronics. If your boat has a cabin... then stay inside and avoid
touching metal or electrical devices. If your boat doesn`t have a
cabin... stay as low as you can in the boat. Ultimately... boating
safety begins ashore with planning and training. Keep in mind that
thunderstorms are usually brief so waiting it out is better than
riding it out.
/Fri 5-24/ ... boating under the influence...
The effects of alcohol and drugs are just as hazardous on the water
as on land. Boating under the influence... or bui... affects
judgment... vision... balance and coordination. These impairments can
increase the risk of being involved in a boating accident - for both
passengers and boat operators. Alcohol is a contributing factor in
about a third of all recreational boating fatalities. It is illegal
in every state to operate any boat or watercraft while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
For more information on hazardous weather and boating safety... visit
the following websites:
Http://www.NWS.NOAA.Gov/safeboating
http://www.Safeboatingcouncil.Org/
NWS public information statements are online at:
http://www.NWS.NOAA.Gov/om/notif.Htm
Copyright© 2013