| Office of Public Affairs U.S. Coast Guard First District |
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| Press Release |
Date: June 23, 2009
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| Coast Guard gears up for Operation Dry Water |
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In 2007, the Coast Guard reported 21 percent of deaths from recreational boating accidents resulted from the use of alcohol. “Operation Dry Water has a very clear mission,” said Al Johnson, the First Coast Guard District's recreational boating safety specialist. “It seeks to get impaired boaters off the water, while making them aware of the legal consequences as well as the potentially fatal effects of boating under the influence.” According to the National Transportation Safety Board, recreational boating accidents are second only to highway accidents in the number of transportation fatalities. Nationwide, the legal blood alcohol content limit is .08 percent. Consequences for boating under the influence vary by state but include: prison, loss of boating or driving privileges, and fines. Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. Alcohol also increases the effects of common stress factors related to boating such as sun, wind, vibration and motion. With the 4th of July holiday approaching, Johnson noted that since 1998 the First District, which covers Northern New Jersey to the Maine/Canadian border, has suffered the loss of 39 recreational boaters and paddlers over the holiday weekend. Eighteen deaths were alcohol related, which is more than double the annual nationwide average. For more information visit http://operationdrywater.org/
Editor's Note: Media interested in covering this story should contact Petty Officer 3rd Class James Rhodes at (617) 223- 8515. |
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