HomeMy WebLinkAbout17-081RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 20-26, 2017 AS
"NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK" IN ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
1. Recreational boating is fun and enjoyable and Floridians are fortunate to have sufficient
resources to accommodate the wide variety of pleasure boating demands.
2. Our waterways can become crowded at times and be a place of chaos and confusion.
While being a marvelous source of recreation, boating, to the unprepared, can be a risky sport.
3. On average, 700 people die each year in boating -related accidents in the United States
and nearly 71% of these are fatalities caused by drowning. The vast majority of these accidents
are caused by human error or poor judgment and not by the boat, equipment, or environmental
factors.
4. Not knowing or obeying the Navigational Rules or the nautical "Rules of the Road,"
drinking alcohol or taking drugs while operating a boat, or choosing not to wear your life jacket
when doing so is clearly NOT the smart thing to do. All are examples of human error or a lack
of proper judgment.
5. A significant number of boaters who lose their lives by drowning each year would be alive
today had they worn their life jackets. Today's 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.
6. Knowledge and skills are important in reducing human error and improving judgment. If
people are aware of the risk, they are likely to take the precautionary measures to protect
themselves, their friends, and family.
7. We must continue to spread the message of boating safety not only during National Safe
Boating Week, but also throughout the entire year.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida:
1. This Board supports the goals of the North American Safe Boating Campaign and
does hereby proclaim the week of May 20-26, 2017 as "NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK" in St.
Lucie County, Florida.
2. This Board urges the citizens of St. Lucie County who boat to "BOAT SMART. BOAT
SAFE. WEAR IT".
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 2 d day of May, 2017.
ATTEST: BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORID/
BY: C,
DEPUTY_CLERK l CHAIRMAN
APPROVE
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