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Coast Guard prevents a tragedy, issues safety reminders
Office of Public Affairs
U=2ES. Coast Guard Thirteenth District Press Release Date: July 20, 2005 Contact: PA3 Adam Eggers (206) 220-7237 COAST GUARD HELPS 5 PEOPLE WITH FLOODING VESSEL SEATTLE - The Coast Guard responded to a distress call from a 40-foot pleasure craft that was in danger of sinking with five people onboard, 3=2E5 nautical miles northwest of Smith Island, Wash., at 6:39 a.m. today. Coast Guard Group/Air Station Port Angeles, Wash., received the call via VHF channel 16 from the Mercades, stating that they were taking on water and in need of assistance. Group/Air Station Port Angeles launched an HH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a 25-foot response boat, Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Wash., launched a 27-foot utility boat and Vessel Assist also responded. Two dewatering pumps were passed to the vessel in the hope that the flooding could be contained. The pumps were able to keep up with the flooding and the Mercades was escorted to Anacortes, Wash., by the response boat from Station Port Angeles. The Coast Guard would like to inform recreational boaters of a few simple preparations that can greatly increase safety and survivability while on the water. Personal Floatation Devices: Life jackets - bring one for each person. History has shown that the chances of survival greatly increase if an individual is wearing a personal floatation device. In 2002, 524 people drowned in the United States. Four-hundred forty-two of those people were not wearing life jackets. That year a total of 750 people died in boating accidents with only 159 of those people wearing life jackets. For more information on life jacket requirements visit the following link. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/fed_reqs/equ_pfd.htm Marine Radio: Investing in a good Very High Frequency FM (VHF FM) radio is a smart purchase. Cell phones should not be used as a primary means of emergency communication on the water where reception may be poor or unavailable. A VHF radio has certain advantages such as: =B7 Good quality transmission. =B7 Strong signal. =B7 Channels reserved for distress calls. (VHF channel 16) =B7 Continuously monitored frequencies. For more in-depth information about radios and terminology visit the link below. http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife/radio.htm Get Your Boat Checked before heading out: The Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadron offer a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC). Some of the common problems found on recreational vessels which could cause it to fail an inspection are no personal floatation devices, no visual distress signals or inoperable navigational lights. For a complete list of what boaters should check prior to heading out, or to schedule a free vessel safety check, visit the following link. www.vesselsafetycheck.org ADDITIONAL LINKS Boating safety http://www.uscgboating.org/ USCG District 13 Auxiliary http://www.uscgaux.org/~130/ For additional boating safety information or to conduct an interview concerning boating safety, contact the 13th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (206) 220-7237. ### The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America. |
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