Dallas, TX (PRWEB) May 18, 2014
National Safe Boating Week, held May 17-23, 2014, aims to raise awareness for boating fatalities and to promote safe boating practices. Boat Ed's new boating safety video library is a great way for new and experienced boaters to quickly brush up on key safety information that will help keep everyone safe on the water.
“We monitor the boating industry year round and with warmer weather comes the increased potential for boating accidents. Education and awareness are two key factors in preventing accidents. The purpose of any boating safety course or training material is to prepare boaters for a variety of scenarios in and out of the water,” said Kurt Kalkomey, president of Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc.
All boaters are encouraged to take a course, regardless of state requirements, before taking to the water. Boat Ed®, a branch of Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc., also offers official, state-specific boating e-books that cover boating laws and safety information. These e-books are available at http://bookstore.kalkomey.com/collections/boating.
Most recent data from the United States Coast Guard details 4,515 accidents in 2012, including 651 fatalities and 3,000 injuries, marking a 12.9% decrease in fatality rate from the prior year's report. The majority of these accidents occurred from May to August, with nearly 70 percent of the reportable incidents for the year. July remained the month with the single highest number of accidents with 1,079 reported, a decrease from 1,215 in 2011.
Of the fatal boating accidents in 2012, 71 percent of victims drowned and of those, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket. The National Council for Safe Boating is among several organizations leading initiatives for boating safety education and to curb accident statistics. National Safe Boating Week will be held May 17-23, 2014, with events coordinated across the country. One of the highlights of the week is “Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day.” The campaign hopes to be a firm reminder of basic safety measures.
Several states with education and license requirements also have age requirements for life jackets. The online boating safety courses offered at boat-ed.com outline the specific conditions for each state. In some states, boaters as young as 12 can legally operate a personal watercraft if they complete a boating safety course.
“We're seeing more young people studying and earning their boating certification as they reach their state’s age of eligibility. Parents are largely responsible for this trend, and it is encouraging to know that boating education is an increasing priority,” said Cindy Kalkomey, Ph.D., president of Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc.
To take a state-approved boating safety course, visit http://www.boat-ed.com/. You also can learn more about Safe Boating Week by going to http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
About Kalkomey
Kalkomey, parent company of Boat Ed® and boat-ed.com, is an official provider of recreational safety education products for North America. An American company based in Dallas, Texas, Kalkomey produces print and Internet courses that have provided official safety certification since 1995. Kalkomey offers safety courses in boating, hunting, bowhunting, safe handgun use, and off-road vehicle and snowmobile operation. For more information, visit http://www.kalkomey.com.