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Public Information Statement
National Weather Service Buffalo NY
803 AM EDT Sun May 19 2024

...NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK CONTINUES...

The National Weather Service in partnership with the National Safe
Boating Council has declared May 18 through May 24 2024 National
Safe Boating Week to help promote safe boating practices across the
Great Lakes and on inland lakes and waterways.

Today`s topic is life jackets. Before you and your family go out on
the water this year, ensure your boat is equipped with enough life
jackets for everyone on board and wear them. Boaters are required to
have a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket on board for every
passenger on their vessel. Unplanned immersion in cold water can be
life-threatening for anyone without protection from the temperatures
or a lifejacket to help you stay afloat. Drowning can be
instantaneous. Wearing a life jacket significantly increases your
survival chances. Nearly 90 percent of those who drown while boating
were not wearing a life jacket.

The best option is to always wear a life jacket, but New York State
law requires that life jackets must be worn at all times in the
following situations. Children under 12 years of age on a vessel
less than 65 feet in length, unless they are in a totally enclosed
cabin.  Everyone being towed (water skiing, tubing, etc.). Everyone
on a Personal Watercraft. Everyone on a vessel less than 21 feet in
length including canoes, rowboats, and kayaks while underway between
November 1st and May 1st.

Modern life jackets are available in a wide variety of shapes,
colors, and sizes. They are comfortable, lightweight, and perfect
for any boating activity or sport. No matter what the activity or
life jacket style chosen, the most important thing to remember is
this: remember to grab a life jacket and wear it!

For more information about boating safety visit
weather.gov/safety/safeboating-week and safeboatingcampaign.com

$$