PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Mike Rounds is urging all who boat to "Boat Smart," "Boat Safe," "Wear It" and practice safe boating habits. The Governor is kicking off this year-round effort by proclaiming May 21 – 27, 2005, as "Safe Boating Week" in South Dakota.

"About 700 people die each year in boating-related accidents in the U.S., and nearly 70 percent of these are fatalities caused by drowning," said Game, Fish and Parks Boating Safety Coordinator Al Bahe. "What may be surprising to some is that the majority of these accidents are caused by human error and poor judgement and not by the boat, equipment or environmental factors. What isn’t surprising is that a significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive today had they worn their life jacket."

Many might say wearing a life jacket is just common sense; however excuses for not wearing their like jacket (also called personal flotation device or PFD) are that the jackets are too bulky, hot, uncomfortable and restricting. Bahe says styles have changed. "Modern life jackets are more comfortable, more attractive and more wearable than styles of years past and deserve a fresh look by today’s boating public. So, next time you are boating, find one that fits well and be a safe boater by wearing it. A life jacket will only work when a person wears it!"

Bahe added that boating safely not only includes wearing a life jacket, but also involves knowing the traffic laws for public waters, having the required safety equipment on board the boat, avoiding alcohol and drugs, watching the weather plus a number of other factors that are all covered in the South Dakota Boating Regulations pamphlet. To obtain a copy, write to: SDGFP, 412 West Missouri Ave., Pierre, S.D., 57501; e-mail wildinfo@state.sd.us or visit the GFP website at www.sdgfp.info, hold the cursor over "Outdoor Recreation" and click on the link to "Boating."

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