Alabama News Center — Cruise into boating season safely for National Safe Boating Week

By: Alabama News Center Staff

National Safe Boating Week, occurring from May 21-27, serves as a crucial reminder to enhance boating safety skills in anticipation of the boating season. With warmer weather arriving, there’s an increased interest in recreational activities on Alabama’s picturesque lakes, where boating is a favored pastime. The rise in lake visitors underscores the importance of prioritizing safety.

Ensuring the availability of life jackets on your boat is a fundamental step towards safeguarding all passengers, a practice mandated by law across all 50 states. In Alabama, boats are required to carry properly sized, wearable personal flotation devices (PFDs) for each individual onboard or being towed. Furthermore, children under the age of 8 must wear a Coast Guard-approved PFD at all times while on any vessel.

The U.S. Coast Guard‘s 2022 Boating Safety Statistic Report highlights that drowning was the cause of 70% of recreational boating deaths, with 85% of those victims not wearing life jackets. It’s essential to recognize that life jackets come in various types and sizes, including five levels of life jackets and throwable flotation devices. Selecting the appropriate type based on your activities or boating conditions is crucial.

The Alabama Weather Blog is pleased to present an excerpt from a featured article in partnership with the Alabama News Center. For the full post including images, videos, and related links, please visit the article HERE.

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