As season heats up, boaters urged to use caution
Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Mayor Kim McMillan and Montgomery County Mayor Jim Durrett have proclaimed May 19th-25th, 2018 as Safe Boating Week.
The National Safe Boating Week proclamation notes that as the busy season of on-the-water recreation begins, all boaters are encouraged to wear life jackets, know the “Rules of the Road” on the water, boat responsibly and take a safe boating class.
“As our proclamation states, hundreds of lives could be saved each year if boaters simply remember to wear life jackets while boating,” Mayor McMillan said. “Plus, the law requires that wearable life jackets be carried for each person on board a boat.”
The United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 11-07, Clarksville/ Fort Campbell, promotes public awareness of the important things every boater should know about boating safety.
“Our local Coast Guard auxiliary does a great job providing safe boating instruction,” Mayor Durrett said. “We encourage anyone who intends to take to the water this summer to get some training on how to prevent boating accidents and also learn some rescue and survival techniques in case one does occur.”
For more about safe boating visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary website at www.cgaux.org
Here is the full proclamation:
Proclamation
National Safe Boating Week
WHEREAS, Americans are increasingly heading to the water for recreation and relaxation as the opportunities for on-the-water activities grow each year. With this growth comes additional responsibility; and
WHEREAS, it is vital that both novice and experienced boaters alike practice safe boating habits — especially wearing a life jacket. Approximately 88 percent of those who die in boating related drownings were not wearing life jackets; and
WHEREAS, hundreds of lives could be saved each year by wearing life jackets and the law requires that wearable life jackets be carried for each person on board a boat; and
WHEREAS, responsible boaters will learn the local boating regulations, follow the “rules of the road,” not drink alcohol and boat, wear their life jacket, and respect fellow boaters; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 11-07 Clarksville, Tennessee provide safe boating instruction for all ages in order to prevent boating accidents and to teach rescue and survival techniques in case one does occur.
NOW THEREFORE, WE, JIM DURRETT, Mayor of Montgomery County; KIM McMILLAN, Mayor of the City of Clarksville; WILLIAM WELTY, USCG Auxiliary Flotilla Commander 082-11-07; DALE LEIGHTON, USCG Auxiliary Vice Flotilla Commander 082-11-07; FRED GILMAN, Division Commander for Division 11, and THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD; proclaim May 19th through 25th, 2018, as Safe Boating Week within the City of Clarksville and encourage all boaters to wear their life jackets, boat responsibly, and enroll in a safe boating class.
