The United States Coast Guard's Life Jacket Rule will go into effect Dec. 23. In support of the ongoing efforts of the states and Coast Guard to improve boating safety, the Coast Guard is requiring that all children under 13 years of age wear Coast Guard approved life jackets, while aboard recreational vessels underway, except when the children are below decks or in an enclosed cabin. This rule was created to address the problem of childhood drownings while boating. Between 1995 - 2001, 210 of our children, under the age of 13 died while boating. One hundred and twenty one (121) of them by drowning. Most of these deaths could have been prevented if the child had been wearing a properly fitting life jacket. This Rule affects only those States that have not established requirements, by statute or rule, for children to wear life jackets. For the remaining states, the rule recognizes and adopts the existing state regulation, even if it is less stringent. This rule only applies to waters under the juridiciton of the Coast Guard - not sole state waters. "Statistics show that life jackets save lives --but only when they are worn," says Captain Scott Evans, Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Office in Washington, D.C. "Children customarily wear protective gear when rollerblading, skateboarding, and bicycling, and similar precautions are in order on the water. The Life Jacket Rule was proposed to make sure that there is a life jacket rule in all states." Penalties for a boat operator who fails to have all children under the age of 13 wear a life jacket are similar to those for failing to have life jackets on board. Penalties may be assessed up to a maximum of $1,100 for each violation. The United States Coast Guard published the Interim Rule June 24, 2002, in the Federal Register, and in cooperation with states, conducted an education and public awareness phase that began July 1 and will end Dec. 31, 2002. States with no current regulation for life jacket wear by children include Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, the Northern Mariana Islands, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

For more boating safety information see http://www.uscg.mil/news and http://www.uscgboating.org. Contact: Captain Scott Evans, Chief, Boating Safety, 202-267-1077 or Ms. Jo Calkin, Boating Safety Office, 202-267-0994.

http://www.usnewswire.com -0- /U.S. Newswire 202-347-2770/ 12/23 08:00

Under a new law, Hawaii boaters must now carry emergency radio equipment when traveling more than a mile offshore or face a $100 fine. The law requires vessels that go beyond the mile limit to carry either an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or a VHF-FM radio. Gov. Linda Lingle recently signed into law legislation mandating the emergency equipment. "If it can save lives, I think it's an important piece of equipment," said Michael McDaniel, who purchased a $3,000 EPIRB after he got a 41-foot auxiliary ketch (sailboat) five months ago. He bought a top-of-the-line EPIRB, which uses global positioning satellite technology and is self-deployable. "I value my safety," he said. "Of course, I can put that in my budget." The law applies to any watercraft that must register with the state or the Coast Guard, including manual or sail-propelled boats. Kayaks and training vessels are exempt if accompanied by a vessel carrying the proper equipment. Canoes, paddleboards, personal watercraft and surfboards are exempt from the law. Although Francis Gilles has been sailing for 25 years and has never had to radio for help, he thinks it is a good law. Gilles carries both an EPIRB and a single-side band radio on his 41-foot sailboat, the Ululani, which he was washing down yesterday. "I think it's quite necessary for people who go offshore," said Gilles, who with his wife lives on the Ululani, which is docked at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor. McDaniel plans to sail to the mainland, so he "sunk a lot of money into safety equipment," he said. The U.S. Marine Corps captain said he once saw a sailboat in flames while on a military vessel, which was alerted by EPIRB. "No one wants to use it until they need it. Then they say they'll sink whatever money they can." Jimmy Willis' 32-foot pilothorn sloop is equipped with EPIRB, but it needs a new battery and he cannot find one locally. He said EPIRBs are the way to go, since the satellite tracking system will allow rescuers to know a boat's exact location, although VHF radios are much cheaper. The cost of EPIRBs varies from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand. Willis, who sailed from the mainland a few years ago, said VHF radios do not do a lot of good since they transmit only about 20 miles, depending on a clear line of sight. If there are large swells and the antenna is located near the deck instead of high on the mast, it may not be able to transmit far. Boaters can use the VHF radio to call the Coast Guard, but other boats do not always have them on board, he said. The state Senate Transportation Committee recommended approval of the bill because of concern over boaters who could not be found after being lost at sea. "Many boating fatalities occur simply because rescue personnel are unable to locate stranded boats in time," the committee report said. The committee also noted the high cost of search-and-rescue operations, citing two cases last year that each cost the state $1 million. The committee said a positioning beacon device costs about $600, while a VHF radio costs $100.