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Wardens to "Ramp Up" for Safe Boating Season

June 03, 2008 - NAPLES -- Summer is here and the time is right for boating on the lakes.

For boating safely on the lakes.

The new head of the Maine Warden service and members of his agency joined with local legislators and municipal officials last week on the Naples Causeway to urge the public to use common sense and practice safety at all times, when boating and swimming on Maine's inland water bodies.

Maine Warden service colonel Joel Wilkinson announced that his agency plans to step up enforcement on the state's high traffic, heavily-used inland water bodies, including Long Lake, Brandy Pond and Sebago Lake.

"This summer, the Maine Warden Service will be stepping up enforcement details, to reduce accidents and promote safety," Colonel Wilkinson said. "We will be beefing up patrols on heavily used lakes. Last year, 16 people died in boat related accidents, tying 2005 as the year with the most deaths on Maine's inland waterways. We want to encourage people to be safe and to not drink and boat."

In August 2007, two people lost their lives when two boats collided at night on upper Long Lake near Bear Point in Harrison.

Colonel Wilkinson was accompanied May 21 by Major Gregory Sanborn, as well as members of the Warden services dive team. The Maine Warden service is partnering with other state law enforcement agencies, the United States Coast Guard, the National Safe Boating Council, the United States Boat Owners Association, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and other groups, to promote its safety message this year.

The week leading up to Memorial Day was designated as National Boating Safety Week. However, Colonel Wilkinson stressed that the boating public should be aware of the laws before they set out in a watercraft.

We all know drinking and driving don't mix," said Captain Jim Rendon of the United States Coast Guard. "The same goes for boating. Think twice, boaters, before you pop a cold one."

A startling statistic from a Massachusetts-based research institute shows that less than 2% of Maine adults wear life jackets, Wilkinson said. The national rate is more than double that.

"Maine law does not require people over the age of 10 years to wear a life jacket, but common sense should," said Colonel Wilkinson. "Most boat incident related drownings occur because victims weren't wearing personal flotation devices. They are proven to save lives and by wearing one you increase your chances of survival if you are in a mishap."

The states boating regulations are listed in the Boating Law Book that is produced by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is available at licensing and registration agents, town offices and at the department.

"Obeying the law is in everyone's best interests," said Major Sanborn, who manages field operations. "We cannot stress enough that the life that is saved may be your own or family member's."

"Every year we are reminded of the importance of putting a life jacket on a child," stated Maine Warden Service Lt. Adam Gormely, who is the Service's boat safety coordinator. "In Maine, 87% of children under the age of 13 are wearing life jackets while out on boats, but 13% of the children are not. Adults need to teach children the importance of personal flotation devices by putting one on the youngster -- and by putting one on themselves. The best way for an adult to teach a child about safety is for the youngster to see an adult wearing a life jacket. Children learn from the strong examples you set."

Today's life jackets are no longer the bulky ones that many boaters believed were too cumbersome and restrictive, Lt. Gormley said. He pointed out that manufacturers have come up with inflatable personal flotation devices that vary in size -- including some that are as small as a fanny pack.

"Most of the new inflatable personal flotation devices have been proven to be more effective saving lives than traditional life jackets," said Gormley. "They are highly visible, they can turn some wearer's face up faster than traditional life jackets with an inflatability feature that will keep most unconscious user's face up."

This year, the Maine Warden Service continues its partnership with McDonald's to promote youth life jacket use. McDonald's is sponsoring the Services "Flotation Citation" campaign by providing coupons for free "Apple Dippers" or a "fruit and yogurt parfait" that will be distributed by wardens who observe children wearing personal flotation devices.

This article first appeared in the Bridgton News, May 29, 2008.

Lakes: Brandy Pond, Long Lake, Sebago Lake
Regions: Sebago


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