Last week, officers from the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 21-03 in Easton were presented with a proclamation from County Commissioners, declaring May 20-26th as Safe Boating Week in Queen Anne’s County.
Proclamation:
WHEREAS, many residents of and visitors to Queen Anne’s County enjoy recreational boating, including fishing, hunting, sailing, canoeing and kayaking; and
WHEREAS, each year an average of 650 people die in boating-related accidents in the United States and 75% of these deaths are caused by drowning; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of these accidents are caused by human error or poor judgment and not by the boat, equipment or environmental factors; and
WHEREAS, a significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jackets; and
WHEREAS most boating fatalities involve boats whose operators did not have proper boating safety education; and
WHEREAS, most boating fatalities involve boats whose operators did not have proper boating safety education; and
WHEREAS, Queen Anne’s County recognizes the year-round efforts of the United States Coast Guard and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources in saving lives and protecting us on the water; and
WHEREAS, Queen Anne’s County recognizes the volunteer efforts of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 2 1-03 in Easton and Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas throughout Maryland in promoting safe boating education and practices through classroom instruction, vessel examinations, and on-the-water patrols; and
WHEREAS, in 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established National Safe Boating Week; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, the date for National Safe Boating Week was changed to the full week before Memorial Day Weekend each year; and
NOW, THEREFORE, we, the County Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County, do hereby proclaim the week of May 20th through 26th as Safe Boating Week in Queen Anne’s County and urge all those who boat to practice safe boating habits, avoid using alcohol or drugs when operating a boat, and always wear a life jacket while boating.