Spring and Summer Boating Safety Encouraged in 2010: National Boating Safety Week May 22nd -28th
 |
| CCSO Marine Unit Deputy Chris Castelli issues a t-shirt to brothers Kale and Kody Politte after they were “caught” wearing their life jackets this weekend. The t-shirts were donated by the Save the Manatee Club. Photo courtesy Traci Martindale, owner of Knights Marina.
|
For more information, contact:
Janice Nearing,
Director of Public Relations
Save the Manatee Club
Phone: (407) 539-0990
E-mail: jnearing@
savethemanatee.org |
Chris Castelli
CCSO Marine Unit Deputy
Phone: 904-591-4621 |
For Immediate Release: May 3, 2010
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit continues its campaign in 2010 to encourage the wearing of life jackets by children as well as manatee awareness while boating.
This year, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office received a donation from the Save the Manatee Club to purchase T-shirts to give away to children “caught” wearing their life jackets. Marine officers will give away T-shirts to children found wearing their United States Coast Guard approved personal floatation devices (PFD/Life Jackets) while boating.
In an effort to encourage boaters of all ages to be more aware of growing manatee mortalities, the Save the Manatee Club is also assisting by providing educational information to boaters in Clay County. CCSO Marine officers will give out the t-shirts as long as supplies last throughout the spring and summer of 2010.
Clay County offers prime habitat for manatees using the lower St. Johns River. Manatees can be found traveling, resting and feeding throughout the county primarily from spring to late fall.
Florida has the highest number of human boating fatalities annually (in the nation), according to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Division of Law Enforcement’s 2008 Boating Accidents Statistical Report. A large number of these deaths could have been prevented if the victims had worn life jackets, according to the report.
The CCSO Marine Unit will kick off the safety campaign to coincide with National Boating Safety Week which is May 22nd through the 28th.
###
Return to the Manatee News page
