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“Boat Smart. Boat Safe. Wear It!” is the theme for Safe Boating Week, May 21-27.
Safe Boating Week is an annual week-long event emphasizing the need for boaters to wear a personal flotation device, more commonly called life jackets. Failure to wear a PFD is the main reason people lose their lives in boating accidents.
Nationwide, each year on average 700 people die in boating-related accidents. Nearly 70 percent are caused by drowning, and eight out of 10 victims were not wearing a life jacket. North Dakota reported four fatalities last year, and none of the victims were wearing a life jacket.
North Dakota law requires PFDs in the following circumstances:
 | On watercraft less than 16 feet in length, one wearable PFD must be on board for each person. |
| Anyone being towed on water-skis, surfboard, or a similar device must wear a PFD. |
| No person may operate or permit the operation of a personal watercraft without each person on board wearing a PFD. |
| Watercraft 16 feet or longer must have one wearable PFD for each person on board, and one throwable flotation device. |
| On any vessel less than 27 feet in length, all persons 10 years of age or younger must wear an appropriately sized and properly fastened Coast Guard approved PFD. |
Boaters are reminded to test life jackets for serviceability and fit. All straps and buckles must be intact and there should be no rips or tears in the fabric. Test life jackets by wearing them in the water. A properly fitted life jacket should keep the wearer’s face and mouth out of the water and enable him or her to float without effort.
The North Dakota Game and Fish Department has partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the North Dakota Safety Council for several years to present boat and water safety classes and other events such as “Kids In Boats” programs, displays, media spots, public service announcements, seminars, classroom sessions and one-on-one discussion of safety topics.
To find out if a safety event is coming to your area, or to get additional information on Safe Boating Week, contact the game and fish department (701-328-6300), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (701-654-7411), or the N.D. Safety Council (701-223-6372).
This year’s Safe Boating Week campaign is sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard.
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