Coast Guard official informs chamber
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vice Flotilla Beach Commander Dan Eaton simplified his job description during a speech to Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce business members at DiamondHead Beach Resort Thursday.
“I’m in the business of saving taxpayers money,” he said. “Search and rescue operations are expensive.”
The local Coast Guard auxiliary members, known as “America’s Volunteer Lifesavers,” perform most every function as a regular Coast Guard member except military operations and law enforcement, according to Eaton.
“We augment the Coast Guard by safety patrol as needed,” he said. “We specialize in promoting boating safety through public education, free vessel examinations and operations.”
Eaton elaborated on the cost of an overdue search and rescue operation by giving an example of a wife calling the auxiliary station the next day to say her husband hadn’t returned from fishing and having no knowledge of what type of boat he was on. The Coast Guard’s next step is to launch boats (two at $2,131 per hour), helicopters (two at $10,865 per hour) and aircraft assets (one at $9,332 per hour) to find the missing. That’s $22,326 in taxpayers money just for the Coast Guard alone.
“That’s not counting any local law enforcement,” said Eaton. “This whole scenario is preventable. Simple little things that can be done by the boater is to have a float plan (go to www.Aux91FMB.org to download one) for the wife or a neighbor, the specifics of the boat and when they are going to return. Having the right equipment on your boat, such as a marine radio and an emergency radio beacon, and having the right knowledge to use it all by taking a safe boating course (next one is April 20; submitted by Eaton below) is important. Simple things you can do basically take the search out of search and rescue.”
Eaton then spoke about the Beach CGA’s job in the security of the local waterways. The local station’s area of responsibility falls between Port Charlotte and Rabbit Key in the Ten Thousand Islands.
“That’s just a huge AOR,” said Eaton. “So, if you see something that’s suspicious (either on the water or a pickup truck with 30 tanks of fuel gassing up) call the Coast Guard. Recently, there has been an increase in boat thefts where someone will cruise the canals at night, see a nice boat, tie a tow rope to it and tow it out. Next thing you know your boat is in Mexico.”
Eaton also pointed out National Safe Boating Week is slated for May 22-28.
“We ask that you help spread the word of safe boating during that week,” he said. “If we can spread our word on safe boating, we can help reduce our costs to the taxpayers.”
Learn how to take the search out of search and rescue
In 2008, there were 4,789 reported boating accidents that resulted in 709 fatalities, 3,331 injuries, and $54,282,587 in property damage throughout the country. Careless/reckless operation, operator inattention, no proper lookout, operator inexperience and passenger/skier behavior rank as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 17 percent of the deaths. (Go to www.uscgboating.org/assets for boating statistics from that year.)
There are new tools and equipment that can help you be safe while out on the water. Being certain you have these tools on your boat, together with the knowledge on how to use them, are essential elements to safe boating. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts Boating Safety Programs to guide you through the maize of Federal Requirements and local regulations for boating safely in Southwest Florida. Jennifer Smith, the Public Education Officer for the Coast Guard Auxiliary Fort Myers Beach Station states, “Florida currently requires any boat operator who is 21 or younger (has not yet turned 22) and operates a vessel with 10-horsepower or more must take a NASBLA-approved safe boating course. The goal of our programs are to prevent area boaters in becoming an accident statistic.”
Regardless of your experience, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Skills and Seamanship program is designed to keep both the experienced sailor and the novice boater informed of our unique waterways. The program leaders are specially qualified in boating education and safety and you’ll enjoy their many stories of first hand accounts of their experiences. It’s a winning combination of superb content and excellent instructors delivering information that you can use every day, in or out of the water.
The nine session Boating Skills and Seamanship program starts on Tuesday, April 20. The two-hour program begins promptly at 7 p.m. Meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Lee County Public Safety Building at 15650 Pine Ridge Rd. Program content includes lessons in having the proper equipment aboard your boat, tips on trailering, handling, your “highway signs”, rules you must follow, emergency procedures and the basics of navigation.
“This is an important program for the recreational boater,” said Eaton. “They learn how not to become the next search and rescue case.”
Boaters are encouraged to register early as the classes fill up quickly. Register today by calling 340-3443. The cost of the class is $50 which includes your study guide reference manual. Register online at www.aux91fmb.org
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was established by Congress in 1939 to assist the Coast Guard in promoting boating safety. It boasts more than 35,000 members from all walks of life who receive special training so that they may be a functional part of Coast Guard Forces. Auxiliary members assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement programs such as public education, vessel safety checks, safety patrols, search and rescue, maritime security and environmental protection and Coast Guard Academy introduction programs for youths. Auxiliary members volunteer more than two million hours annually to benefit other boaters and their families.