Boat safe, boat smart, boat sober


By DEBORAH A. MILES A light fog hugs the ground on a hot summer morning. You, along with hundreds of other water enthusiasts, decide to go boating. You round up some friends, rent a sailboat and once on the lake, enjoy the breeze, sun and each other. Then you hear some popping sounds followed by a loud snap. The main boom of your sailboat has broken in half. It capsizes and everyone is in the water.


If you have heard of the “Wear-It” campaign, chances are you and your friends are wearing life jackets.


They are an important part of boating safety and PEF members are sending that message across the state.


Ro Woodard is an environmental educator at the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. She is part of a small team devoted to boating safety, so New Yorkers and tourists can enjoy the scenic lakes and waterways without incident.


“If someone ends up in the water, it’s not a swim. It’s an emergency,” Woodard said. “A lot of people aren’t swimmers. Once you


Page 8 — The Communicator July/August 2015 twitter.com/nyspef


THOROUGH CHECK — Peter Gionet inspects the propeller shaft of a steamboat that operates on Lake George. — Photo by John Rozell


go under water, your ears may be affected and the ability to swim in the right direction can be altered. There are a lot of reasons life jackets make a big difference. It doesn’t mean that everyone who falls in can’t self-rescue, but many people don’t.”


Woodard partners with the National Safe Boating Council and participates in marine boating events held at state parks, festivals, or law enforcement informational days that involve water and recreation. Along with providing information about the various types of life jackets, Woodard educates the public and teaches park employees about the safety measures for paddle boat enthusiasts. “Ro is an ambassador of boating safety across the state,” said Larry Migliozzi, the senior marine services representative who oversees the staff. “More fatalities in the paddle boat community have occurred


twitter.com/susankentpef PEF Information Line: 1-800-553-2445


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