RI Increasing Boat Safety Inspections For National Safe Boating Week

RHODE ISLAND — Environmental police and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are teaming up with boating safety advocates across the United States and Canada to promote safe boating and consistent life jacket-wearing during National Safe Boating Week.

National Safe Boating Week runs from May 21-27. Throughout the week, DEM will increase water patrols, conduct boating safety inspections and provide safety information in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.

State officials will also join the Rhode Island Bomb Squad and West Marine to host two safety flare collection events. At the events, boaters can bring expired flares to a West Marine location for proper disposal. The events will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

• Saturday at West Marine, 399 Bald Hill Road, Warwick
• Sunday at West Marine, 379 W. Main Road, Middletown.

"The key to safe boating is wearing a life jacket," said Lt. Michael Schipritt, of Rhode Island's Boating Law Administrator for DEM's Division of Law Enforcement. "A person who suffers swimming failure or loss of consciousness will stay afloat wearing a life jacket, but will drown without one. There is no time to put a life jacket on before a boating accident — it's no different than attempting to buckle your seat belt before a car crash."

See more information about National Safe Boating Week in RI here.