Various pieces of safety equipment sit on Sunset Beach in Warrenton, Ore., July 2, 2015.
Safety equipment such as life jackets and other flotation devices, electronic position indicating beacons, emergency signals and communication devices, such as cellphones or radios, are key elements that attribute to a successful rescue in the event of an emergency situation.
U.S. Coast Guard illustration by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Klingenberg.
A Coast Guardsman hands over his boat keys to a shipmate for a posed photo to demonstrate designating a sober skipper. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in boater deaths. U.S. Coast Guard illustration by Petty Officer 1st Class Zac Crawford.
SEATTLE — The Coast Guard is calling for boaters to take responsibility for their safety over the 4th of July weekend, when significant tides and sunny weather could spell disaster on Pacific Northwest waterways.
Boaters are advised to stay sober and wear their life jacket at all times in case of an emergency, as tide changes can cause vessels to run aground.
"Lifejackets are like the seatbelt in your car," said Capt. Robert Pearce, chief or response, Coast Guard 13th District. "It can save your life, but it is completely ineffective if you aren't wearing it."
Lower than normal tides are expected in Puget Sound and along the Washington and Oregon coasts, and boaters are urged to check tide reports prior to getting underway. Low tides can cause previously navigable waters to become too shallow, resulting in boats running aground or collisions with objects in the water.
"Knowing the tide report and understanding the effect of the tides on your proposed route is not just a good idea for boaters. It's crucial," said Pearce.
All boaters should:
- Check the forecast and tides. Many search-and-rescue cases that involve stranded beachgoers and vessels running aground could have been prevented if individuals were prepared for tidal changes. To find your local tide report, visit https://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov/.
- Always wear a life jacket. Since there is little time to reach for stowed vests when accidents occur, wearing one at all times reduces your risk of drowning. Federal law requires you to have an appropriately sized personal floatation device for each passenger.
- Stay sober. Boating under the influence is illegal and deadly. If you notice another boater who appears intoxicated or is driving erratically, call 911.
- Have a VHF-FM marine-band radio on board. If you are in distress, you can reach the Coast Guard on marine-band channel 16, the distress channel. Though cell phones are better than no communication device at all, they tend to have gaps in coverage while on the water and have limited battery life.
- Know what to do. If you do find yourself in trouble and in the water, stay with your vessel for as long as possible, even if it capsizes. Do not try to swim for shore.
- File a float plan with a friend. A float plan simply lets family and friends know where you are going and your expected time of return. File a float plan with someone who is not getting underway with you and stick to the plan. If you change plans, contact the person. A float plan assists responders in the search of an overdue boater who may be in distress.
- Download the free Coast Guard Boating Safety app. It works on most smart phones and includes state boating information, a safety equipment checklist, navigation rules and an emergency assistance feature that will call the closest Coast Guard command center when location services are enabled.
During the 2015 4th of July weekend, Coast Guard crews throughout the Pacific Northwest responded to 18 search-and-rescue cases, including swimmers in distress, capsized vessels and a drunk boating collision that resulted in a fatality.
For more information on Washington boating safety laws, visit http://boat.wa.gov/regulations.asp. For Oregon safety laws, visit https://www.oregon.gov/OSMB/Pages/index.aspx.