As the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadron have stressed repeatedly “ Boat smart from the start and always wear your life jacket”.  Of the 701 boating fatalities in 2000, 561 of these people were not wearing a life jacket.

This major cause of death was recently “brought home” to the Chesapeake Bay when the owner of a twin hull power boat drowned and his two passengers had a very near miss.  The passengers were finally rescued from the water after clinging to a bag filled with life preservers.  The water so rough they were afraid to open the bag and try to put on the life vests.

Operation Boat Smart is a nationwide effort by the U.S. Power Squadron, jointly with other boating organizations, including the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary,   National Association of Safe Boating, Law Administrators, National Water Safety Congress and Nation Safe Boating Council. OBS was born out of the need to reduce boating accidents and fatalities.  Over the past 30 years, the number of registered boats in the U. S. has grown from less than 7 million to 13 million, with 80 million people participating in boating.  Accidents have increased proportionately. Certain "high risk" boating activities have grown rapidly in recent years.  For example, canoes and kayaks now account for 17% of all fatal accidents.  Hunting and fishing are involved in 34% of all fatalities.  Personal watercraft, which now reach speeds in excess of 65 MPH also account for a high percentage of accidents.  OBS is an effort to reach these groups with the safety message. OBS emphasizes four principles, which, if followed, would dramatically reduce boating fatalities:

                                                1.  Wearing life jackets saves lives;

                                                2.  Boater education saves lives;  

                                                3.  Safe boats save lives and  

                                                4.  Safe and sober boating saves lives.

 We of the Power Squadron want to get this message out to as many people as possible, in any way we can. can                                          .