For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 17, 2002
National Safe Boating Week, 2002
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
America is blessed with beautiful coastlines, lakes, and waters
that offer ample opportunities for boating recreation. More than 70
million recreational boaters use our waters every year and boat
registrations continue to increase. Although the number of
recreational boats and boaters is growing, the incidence of boating
deaths continues to drop, thanks to an increasing emphasis on safety.
Despite this positive trend, much work remains to further reduce
boating accidents and fatalities. National Safe Boating Week and the
North American Safe Boating Campaign remind us that safety must always
remain a top priority when boating on our Nation's waterways.
To further reduce boating deaths, it is vital that both children
and adults wear life jackets while boating. Nearly 70 percent of
recreational boating deaths are by drowning, and nearly 90 percent of
these victims were not wearing life jackets. Many of these fatalities
could have been avoided had a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or
personal flotation device been worn. Thanks to new technology and
designs, life jackets are now less burdensome to wear.
Another major cause of boating accidents is the operation of boats
while drunk or otherwise impaired. Boating under the influence of
alcohol or drugs is illegal in every State and is a violation of
Federal law. According to the United States Coast Guard, the dangerous
effects of alcohol on persons operating boats are even greater than for
individuals operating land vehicles. The additional factors that can
further impair judgment and coordination include motion, vibration,
engine noise, wind, sun, and any spray. Boat operators with a blood
alcohol concentration above .10 percent are ten times more likely to
be killed in a boating accident than boat operators who have not been
drinking. During National Safe Boating Week, we must underscore again
that to operate a boat or any vehicle while under the influence is
never safe.
A less recognized boating hazard involves a silent killer: carbon
monoxide. Dangerous or deadly fumes can accumulate in confined spaces
on boats, near stern ladders, and under swimming platforms. Swimmers
and water-skiers behind running boat engines face the greatest risk of
exposure to exhaust fumes, which can build up to deadly levels.
Boaters should be aware of the threats posed by carbon monoxide and
take steps to avoid them. Individuals may learn more about carbon
monoxide and other ways to stay safe while boating by visiting the U.S.
Coast Guard's website at www.uscgboating.org.
In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the
Congress, by joint resolution approved June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as
amended, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim
annually the 7-day period prior to Memorial Day weekend as "National
Safe Boating Week."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim May 18 through May 24, 2002, as National
Safe Boating Week. I encourage the Governors of the 50 States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the
officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United
States, to join in observing this occasion. I also urge boaters to
learn about proper boating practices and to take advantage of programs
offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. By taking sensible
precautions on the water and learning more about potential dangers,
boaters can enjoy boating recreation and help ensure the safety of
others.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth
day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-sixth.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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