North American Safe Boating Campaign
Encyclopedia
The North American Safe Boating Campaign is a year-round campaign focused on spreading the message of boating
safety, encouraging boater education, and helping to save lives. It kicks off each year the full week before Memorial Day
Weekend with National Safe Boating Week
, with focused efforts during the peak boating season of May – September. Promoting life jacket
wear by every boater is the leading goal of the Campaign.
Created in 1958 as National Safe Boating Week, the official entrance of Canada in 2000 transformed the event into a larger, international campaign known as North American Safe Boating Campaign. The Campaign is a core program of the National Safe Boating Council
.
observation took place sponsored by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in various parts of the country.
As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared a Resolution, and on June 4, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed PL 85-445, to establish National Safe Boating Week as the first week starting on the first Sunday in June. The National Safe Boating Week Committee, now known as the National Safe Boating Council, organized the event by coordinating efforts among the various boating safety groups.
In 1995, the date for National Safe Boating Week was finally changed to the full week (Saturday – Friday) before Memorial Day
Weekend each year. This allowed the message of safe boating to reach more boaters before the season and enforce the message for a longer amount of time each year. The official entrance of Canada
in 2000 transformed National Safe Boating Week into a larger, international event with partnerships with the Canadian Safe Boating Council and Canadian Coast Guard. National Safe Boating Week now serves as the kick off for the North American Safe Boating Campaign, a year-round campaign that is focused during the summer months of May – September.
, public service announcements, informational campaign mailers, and other efforts, the Campaign is able to reach a wide range of individuals with boating safety materials. This information is intended to enhance and supplement groups, associations and organizations boating safety campaigns across the United States and Canada during National Safe Boating Week.
Throughout the years, the Campaign has strengthened and worked to gain more national attention across the U.S. In 2006, “Wear It!” became the official slogan of the campaign. Routine and consistent life jacket wear during all water activities can make the difference between life and death. According to the U.S. Coast Guard:
In 2007, The Delta region in Sacramento, California
was chosen to be the first targeted area in the U.S. for campaign efforts. As a result, life jacket wear rate increased from a baseline measurement of 6.2 percent to 12.2 percent in this area due to the intense marketing of a focused “Wear It!” campaign and the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Safe Boating Council, Boat U.S. Foundation
, and the California Department of Boating and Waterways
.
The National Safe Boating Council decided to continue this targeted approach in 2008, adding Tennessee to its efforts in addition to a general campaign across the country. In 2009, a third state was included – “Wear It Michigan!” began its own campaign using its law enforcement personnel to educate about the boating safety message.
, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and U.S. Power Squadrons
.
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
safety, encouraging boater education, and helping to save lives. It kicks off each year the full week before Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
Weekend with National Safe Boating Week
United States federal observances
United States federal observances are days, weeks, months, or other periods designated by the United States Congress for the commemoration or other observance of various events, activities, or topics. These observances differ from Federal holidays in that Federal employees only receive a day free...
, with focused efforts during the peak boating season of May – September. Promoting life jacket
Personal flotation device
A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by...
wear by every boater is the leading goal of the Campaign.
Created in 1958 as National Safe Boating Week, the official entrance of Canada in 2000 transformed the event into a larger, international campaign known as North American Safe Boating Campaign. The Campaign is a core program of the National Safe Boating Council
National Safe Boating Council
The National Safe Boating Council is a membership organization with over 330 U.S. and Canadian members committed to reducing boating accidents and enhancing the boating experience...
.
History
The North American Boating Campaign was originally known as “Safe Boating Week,” observed by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary as a Courtesy Examination weekend in Amesburg, Massachusetts in June 1952. This tradition continued until 1957 when an official National Safe Boating WeekUnited States federal observances
United States federal observances are days, weeks, months, or other periods designated by the United States Congress for the commemoration or other observance of various events, activities, or topics. These observances differ from Federal holidays in that Federal employees only receive a day free...
observation took place sponsored by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in various parts of the country.
As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared a Resolution, and on June 4, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed PL 85-445, to establish National Safe Boating Week as the first week starting on the first Sunday in June. The National Safe Boating Week Committee, now known as the National Safe Boating Council, organized the event by coordinating efforts among the various boating safety groups.
In 1995, the date for National Safe Boating Week was finally changed to the full week (Saturday – Friday) before Memorial Day
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May. Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War...
Weekend each year. This allowed the message of safe boating to reach more boaters before the season and enforce the message for a longer amount of time each year. The official entrance of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 2000 transformed National Safe Boating Week into a larger, international event with partnerships with the Canadian Safe Boating Council and Canadian Coast Guard. National Safe Boating Week now serves as the kick off for the North American Safe Boating Campaign, a year-round campaign that is focused during the summer months of May – September.
Programs
The Campaign provides the public with education and information about safe boating. Through press releasesNews release
A press release, news release, media release, press statement or video release is a written or recorded communication directed at members of the news media for the purpose of announcing something ostensibly newsworthy...
, public service announcements, informational campaign mailers, and other efforts, the Campaign is able to reach a wide range of individuals with boating safety materials. This information is intended to enhance and supplement groups, associations and organizations boating safety campaigns across the United States and Canada during National Safe Boating Week.
Throughout the years, the Campaign has strengthened and worked to gain more national attention across the U.S. In 2006, “Wear It!” became the official slogan of the campaign. Routine and consistent life jacket wear during all water activities can make the difference between life and death. According to the U.S. Coast Guard:
- 90 percent of drowning victims in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket in 2007.
- Drowning is the reported cause of death in two-thirds of all boating fatalities.
In 2007, The Delta region in Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
was chosen to be the first targeted area in the U.S. for campaign efforts. As a result, life jacket wear rate increased from a baseline measurement of 6.2 percent to 12.2 percent in this area due to the intense marketing of a focused “Wear It!” campaign and the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Safe Boating Council, Boat U.S. Foundation
BoatUS
The Boat Owners Association of The United States, better known as BoatU.S., is an American association of boat owners offering various services and recreational boat and trailer towing activities...
, and the California Department of Boating and Waterways
California department of boating and waterways
The California Department of Boating and Waterways, is a department within the government of California, belonging to the state cabinet-level California Resources Agency. Originally formed in 1957 as the Division of Small Craft Harbors, the department was officially reorganized to take under new...
.
The National Safe Boating Council decided to continue this targeted approach in 2008, adding Tennessee to its efforts in addition to a general campaign across the country. In 2009, a third state was included – “Wear It Michigan!” began its own campaign using its law enforcement personnel to educate about the boating safety message.
Partner Organizations
The National Safe Boating Council is joined by partner organizations in supporting the Campaign such as Boat U.S. Foundation, National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Canadian Safe Boating Council, U.S. Army Corps of EngineersUnited States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and U.S. Power Squadrons
United States Power Squadrons
The United States Power Squadrons is a non-profit educational organization, founded in 1914, whose mission is to improve maritime safety and enjoyability through classes in seamanship, navigation, and other related subjects. The USPS comprises approximately 45,000 members organized into 450...
.