The National Weather Service has partnered with the National Safe Boating Council to help promote safe boating practices. During Safe Boating Week NWS will disseminate a Public Information Statement and broadcast public service announcements on NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards.

2012 Safe Boating Week : May 19 - 25
Sat.	Sun.	Mon.	Tue.	Wed.	Thu.	Fri.
Hypothermia	Life Jackets	Thunderstorm Safety	Boating Under the Influence	Marine Forecast	Wind and Waves	EPIRBs
Click on one of the days above to view the safety message that will air on NOAA Weather Radio during Safe Boating Week. In addition, you can download audio and several video clips of the PSAs through these links.

To bring special meaning to each of the PSA's this year, staff from our Tampa Bay Forecast Office, conducted a comprehensive interview with boating tragedy survivor Nick Schuyler. Nick is the sole survivor of the tragic boating accident of February 28, 2009, when he and three other friends capsized nearly 70 miles west of Clearwater, Florida. After more than two days in the frigid Gulf waters, Nick was the only one rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard. Nick, a former University of South Florida football player, is very lucky to have survived the ordeal after suffering from hypothermia, liver and kidney damage, and severe lacerations. Nick’s story begins when he and three friends (including two professional football players) went out on a fishing trip on February 28, 2009. The boat capsized and hypothermia quickly set in and took a tragic toll. During the interview, Nick provided what he believes are critical pre-planning steps before one ventures out. Included in that would be a float plan ..... more on float plans. Nick attributed his own survival to having a life jacket available also spoke about and why life jackets are the most important thing on the boat. Another vital safety tool Nick discussed was the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon or EPIRB and why it is so important to have one onboard.

Visit the Safe Boating Campaign website to learn all about boating safety and receive resources for your own boating safety efforts including PSAs, press releases, and other materials.

The United States Coast Guard's boating statistics show on average that 80% of all reported fatalities occur on boats where the operator has not received safety training. Learn about boating accident statistics.

There are a variety of life jackets and they are designed for different uses. Many drownings could have been prevented if life jackets were used. Learn more about life jackets and how to properly use them by visiting the Life Jacket Resource website. When out on the water - WEAR A LIFE JACKET!

Did you ever want to know what a Gale Warning or Small Craft Advisory means? Take some time to learn about various meteorological terminology at the online NWS Weather Glossary.

The National Weather Service issues over 730,000 forecasts each year, incuding thousands of marine and surf zone forecasts. Point and Click Forecasts can be accessed at any location in the United States, and boaters can get Marine Forecasts for areas across the adjacent oceans and Great Lakes.

Learn how to prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities while boating. Review safety tips, news, recalls, defects, and laws and regulations you should know. Visit the United States Coast Guard Boating Safety website.