What looks like a perfect day for boating can quickly become hazardous if someone ends up in the water. Boating safety advocates have teamed up to promote safe and responsible boating, including consistent life jacket wear every time boaters are on the water, during National Safe Boating Week, held from May 18-24, 2019.

National Safe Boating Week is the launch of the Safe Boating Campaign, a yearlong effort focused on spreading the message of boating safety and the importance of always wearing a life jacket each time a boater is on the water. From family-friendly events at marinas to vessel safety checks, the week is packed with life-saving messages about responsible boating.

“Boating is a great opportunity to have fun and make memories with your loved ones while boating responsibly,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council, the lead organization for the campaign. “We believe wearing a life jacket is the simplest way to ensure the safety of you and your loved ones enjoying a day on the water.”

Don’t Be a Number

  • Drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2017.
  • 84.5 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

Get Involved! The Safe Boating Campaign unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates, including the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, Canadian Safe Boating Council and Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation with the National Safe Boating Council. It is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Follow the campaign on social media and find more boating safety information at safeboatingcampaign.com.