A Reminder to Stay Safe This Labor Day Weekend

When I arrived at the ramp from my fishing day yesterday, there was what looked to be a rather new pleasure boat, likely purchased from Bass Pro Shops, getting ready to head out on the water. The occupants included, to the best of my recollection, an adult and at least three exuberant young boys. I waited off in the distance while they made final preparations to get underway. Then, as they approached my holding position, the adult looked my way and asked, "Am I supposed to stay between the markers?"

I answered with a simple "yes," but I couldn't help wondering about the experience level of this adult, who was taking responsibility for so many young lives. I wondered if he ever had completed a boating-safety course, or for that matter, even had reviewed a list of Coast Guard boating-safety instructions.

It's no secret that the country's waterways really heat up over the Labor Day weekend, as many boaters take advantage of the last holiday weekend of summer. Accordingly, legendary pro angler Shaw Grigsby (right) was asked to be spokesperson for this year's Wear It! annual boating-safety campaign. This campaign is designed to make sure everyone on board is wearing a life jacket and boats responsibly.

As Grigsby reminded, "It only takes a moment for an accident to occur."

A professional angler for 35 years, Grigsby is a Bassmaster Elite Series Angler, finishing within the top 10 places 59 times and bringing home first place in nine Bassmaster tournaments. Weekly, he shares his love of fishing as the host of "One More Cast" on The Sportsman Channel. While serious about fishing, Grigsby always tells his viewers it's all about having fun while sharing his passion for the outdoors with others.

"We're honored to have Shaw's support of the campaign," said Rachel Johnson, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council, the lead organization of Wear It! The campaign is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Whether you're boating, fishing, paddling, or waterskiing, Wear It! offers these reminders:

     * Be sure everyone always wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket and follows navigation rules.
     * Check the weather forecast before departing the dock, as weather conditions can change rapidly.
     * File a float plan with someone you trust, providing your vessel, passenger, destination and return details. Make sure that person will be staying ashore.
     * Don't rely on a cellphone to be your only source of communication in the event of an emergency. Consider carrying a DSC-VHF radio, Personal Locator Beacons worn on a life jacket, or an Emergency Position Indicating Beacon on board your boat. These devices can quickly notify rescuers that you are in distress and, with a properly registered DSC radio, even the nature of the distress.
     * Operating a boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs is deadly and illegal in every state. It's the reported cause of 21 percent of all boating fatalities.

For more boating safety tips, visit www.safeboatingcampaign.com.