“Boating takes a toll on a person with the sun, vibration, noise and the wind. All the things that make it fun can also impair the body. You have to be vigilant all the time. There are no road lanes or traffic signals,” Woodard said.
“You also have to be alert to your surroundings,” Migliozzi added. “Alcohol can impair a person’s judgment or ability to react. With the toll boating can take on your body, two beers is like drinking six on land.”
Under the hull
PERFECT FIT — Ro Woodard adjusts the life jacket on Mackenzie Rothchild at a public outreach event held at Thompson’s Lake at Thacher State Park.
— Photo by John Rozell
because of its growing popularity. People are getting into trouble because they don’t know what they are doing. Ro has taken an active role in going out to educate these groups and teaching other people how to pass the message along. This is the fourth year we have been training staff, and the results are paying off.”
Woodard said she wants to reach a greater audience. She spearheaded TV and radio ads that will air in July, and also helped develop print ads that are running in boating and regional publications. The print ad was designed by PEF members Pam Sinko, graphic artist, and John Rozell, photographer.
Riding the waves
Because of their efforts, fewer accidents are being reported for people who use personal water crafts (PWC), such as a Jet Ski or WaveRunner.
“You have to take a course to operate a PWC. There have been up to 130 PWC accidents reported during previous years, mostly injuries,” Migliozzi said. “Now, because of mandatory education, there are about 30 PWC accidents a year. New York is the first state to pass this law. And since 2000, approximately 300,000 people have taken a safe boating course. We have 650 instructors across
MIGLIOZZI
the state. Some are volunteers and others work in a related occupation. They are all certified through our office. We developed the course they use and we also initiated an online boating course with national standards. The public has embraced that.”
www.pef.org
If a boat operates on a state waterway and takes people for hire, such as the Lake George steamboats, it must be inspected. This area of boating safety falls into the competent hands of Migliozzi, and marine services representatives Peter Gionet and Richard Stefanski. The three men have a six-week window to inspect the safety gear of 350 boats statewide. Once every 10 years, each boat must be hoisted out of the water for a full inspection.
STEFANSKI
Migliozzi also trains law-enforcement officers about the laws of water navigation, including how operators should handle their vessels, ways to detect impaired boat operators and vessel noise law enforcement.
Gionet inspects passenger carrying vessels, including boats for charter fisherman, kids and adult camps, hotels and motels, waterski schools and tour boats.
“The top inspection items we find deficient are improper display of public vessel identification, missing life jackets, expired visual distress signals, registration certificate not on board, inaccessible gas line tank, bilge pump not working, inoperable navigation lights or ventilation system and a lack of fire extinguishers,” Gionet said.
Whatever boat you choose . . .
Don’t forget to wear your life jacket!
Another function of the bureau is to monitor the navigation aids such as buoys and channel
markers. It records the boating
accident reports, handles permits, vessel theft and registration fees.
New York Safe Boating
WearItNewYork.com nysparks.com
Scan for boating safety information and to find a boating safety course.
Stefanski said the biggest challenge of boating safety is preparing individuals who may underestimate the water environment. One example is the colder waters found in fall, winter and early spring, as well as swollen rivers or storms whipping up large waves.
“Even on a perfect day, if an individual is not ready to be unexpectedly in the water, he could be in trouble. The best way to be prepared is to wear a life jacket. Technology has improved and life jackets are far less cumbersome and easier to wear. We help to make boating experiences better, but it is still the responsibility of the individual to be prepared,” Stefanski said.
Wear it
Woodard is frequently asked, ‘Who is required to wear a life jacket?’ The answer is a child under age 12, those being towed behind a boat such as waterskiers, PWC operators, and if you are in a boat less than 21 feet in length between November 1 and May 1, cold water season.
Hunters and fishermen, in particular, need to be aware of the cold water law. Cold water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities and can occur with water temperatures above 50 degrees. Boat stability plays a role, as you may lean over the side to net a trophy or stand to fight a feisty fish. This can be enough to capsize a small boat or canoe. That’s why a life jacket is mandatory.
“There is a lot of cold water in New York,” Migliozzi said. “If you fall into it, it is very difficult to swim. It slows down your blood circulation and you lose the mobility in your arms and legs.”
The PEF members at the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation are dedicated to ensuring boat and water safety for all to enjoy. They agreed the three main things to follow are to voluntarily wear a life jacket, take a boating safety course and boat sober.
MESSAGE ONBOARD — PEF members conceptualized, photographed and designed a water safety ad running in various publications statewide. Ro Woodard had the idea, and the full page ad was designed by graphic artist Pam Sinko with photographs by John Rozell.
Facebook.com/PublicEmployeesFederation The Communicator July/August 2015 — Page 9
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