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NOUS41 KWBC 221340
PNSWSH
PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HEADQUARTERS WASHINGTON DC
935 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2001
TO: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE /NWS/ EMPLOYEES...FAMILY OF
SERVICES /FOS/ SUBSCRIBERS...NOAA WEATHER WIRE SERVICE
/NWS/ SUBSCRIBERS...OTHER NWS CUSTOMERS AND PARTNERS
FROM: THERESE Z. PIERCE
CHIEF...MARINE AND COASTAL WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH
SUBJECT: NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK...MAY 19-25 2001
THE NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE U.S.
COAST GUARD AND THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE BOATING LAW
ADMINISTRATORS...AND SUPPORTED BY THE NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION/S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
/NWS/... LAUNCHED THE ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN SAFE BOATING CAMPAIGN
DURING NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK...MAY 19-25 2001.
BOATING SMART IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF ANY DAY ON THE WATER
REGARDLESS OF WHERE YOU BOAT. REMEMBER..."BOAT SMART FROM THE
START."
"BOAT SMART FROM THE START" MEANS KNOWING THE WEATHER. CALM
WINDS AND SEAS MAKE FOR ENJOYABLE RECREATIONAL BOATING. BUT THE
SUDDEN EMERGENCE OF A THUNDERSTORM WITH ITS LIGHTNING CAN TURN A
DAY/S PLEASURE INTO A NIGHTMARE OF DISTRESS. HERE ARE SOME TIPS
ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR PLEASURE AND SAFETY TO A MAXIMUM.
"ONE OF THE BEST TOOLS FOR SAFETY IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC FOR
APPROXIMATELY THE COST TO FILL UP YOUR TANK WITH GAS - THE NOAA
WEATHER RADIO. NOT ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE CONTINUOUS WEATHER
FORECASTS...BUT ALSO SEVERE WEATHER WARNINGS THAT COULD SAVE YOUR
LIFE"...SAID THERESE PIERCE...CHIEF OF THE MARINE AND COASTAL
WEATHER SERVICES BRANCH OF NWS.
MARINERS ARE FREQUENTLY VICTIMS OF LIGHTNING STRIKES. EVERY YEAR
LIGHTNING KILLS AN AVERAGE OF 80 PEOPLE AND INJURES 300...MANY OF
WHOM ARE IN OR NEAR THE WATER. WHEN NWS FORECASTS INDICATE
APPROACHING THUNDERSTORMS...PIERCE SAID..."MARINERS SHOULD STAY
ALERT FOR LIGHTNING. IF POSSIBLE...THEY SHOULD TRY TO GET TO
SHORE...OUT OF THE BOAT AND AWAY FROM THE WATER. IF THIS IS NOT
POSSIBLE...STAY BELOW DECKS AND AWAY FROM METAL OBJECTS THAT ARE
NOT GROUNDED TO THE BOAT'S PROTECTION SYSTEM."
"BOAT SMART FROM THE START" MEANS WEARING YOUR LIFE JACKET AT ALL
TIMES WHILE ON YOUR BOAT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF BOATING ACCIDENTS
ARE CAUSED BY OPERATOR CONTROLLABLE FACTORS AND NOT BY THE BOAT
OR EQUIPMENT.
ACCORDING TO KENNETH T. VENUTO...REAR ADMIRAL...U.S. COAST GUARD
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS POLICY: "I AM STILL CONCERNED THAT LACK
OF KNOWLEDGE AND PREPARATION BY OUR RECREATIONAL BOATERS CAUSES
TOO MANY ACCIDENTS." BETWEEN 700 AND 800 PEOPLE DIE EACH YEAR IN
BOATING-RELATED ACCIDENTS IN THE U.S. NEARLY 70 PERCENT OF ALL
RECREATIONAL BOATING VICTIMS DIE BY DROWNING AND NEARLY 90
PERCENT OF THE DROWNING VICTIMS WERE NOT WEARING A LIFE JACKET.
A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BOATERS WHO LOSE THEIR LIVES BY DROWNING
EACH YEAR WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY HAD THEY WORN THEIR LIFE JACKETS.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON BOATING AND WEATHER SAFETY VISIT THE
FOLLOWING WEBSITES:
HTTP://WWW.SAFEBOATINGCOUNCIL.ORG
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/MARINE/HOME.HTM
THIS AND ALL OTHER NATIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION MESSAGES ARE
AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET AT /USE LOWER CASE/:
HTTP://WWW.NWS.NOAA.GOV/OM/NOTIF.HTM
END
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