“Conducting pre-underway briefings.”

The third week of May is considered by some as the week to plan upcoming Memorial Day weekend activities. However, for the U.S. Coast Guard, and all other agencies involved in public safety on our waterways, the third week of May is National Safe Boating Week. More information may be obtained on the web by going to http://www.safeboatingcampaign.net The theme for 2008 Safe Boating Week is “Wear It”; meaning your lifejacket.

"Auxiliarist Al Young on dock doing pre-underway check with Lovelady Rescue Squad boat."

It’s too hot! It doesn’t look cool. I know how to swim. Nothing is going to happen to me. These are just some of the many reasons people claim that they do not wear life jackets. Life jackets are essential for your boating safety and should be worn at all times while on the water. In 2004, of the 676 recreational boating fatalities, 90% of those victims not wearing their life jackets. 

This year’s Safe Boating Week ran from May 17th to May 24th. To kick off this week, on Saturday May 17, Flotilla 17-3, locally known as the “Hickory Flotilla,” held it’s second annual joint training day on Lake Hickory.

"Auxiliarist Al Young preparing to toss a line with a monkey fist to crew trainee & EMT Jim Bland and crewman Auxiliarist John Gray."

In 2007, the Auxiliary assisted with training new members of the Hickory, NC Police Marine Unit. That event was so successful, it was decided to expand the training this year to include local rescue squads.

This year, the Hickory Rescue Squad and Lovelady Rescue Squad also joined Hickory Police for a day of training to hone seamanship and rescue skills.

“Multi-unit on-water training.”

The event took place at a local Marina. The Auxiliary provided one hour dockside instruction to police and rescue personnel on conducting pre-underway checks to vessels. This included location of all vital safety gear such as first aid kits, lines, fire extinguishers, etc.

Various Auxiliary Operations Specialists and Instructors also demonstrated proper boat towing procedures, VHF radio use, knot tying, Team Coordination Training, and Incident Command.

All participating personnel then proceeded to get underway on Lake Hickory for live towing and SAR (Search and Rescue) drills for several hours. With Auxiliary assistance, the police and rescue squad units practiced stern tows, along-side tows, man overboard drills, and running search patterns.

The Lovelady Rescue Squad brought along their sonar device which sweeps below the water and makes a digital image on the screen so that rescue personnel on the boat can see what is in the water. This aids greatly in locating a drowning victim and lessens the need for dragging to locate victims.

Our flotilla was honored to aid in training of these great agencies who help keep Lake Hickory safe. It was an excellent way for all of the safety agencies on Lake Hickory to work together and be prepared for an actual emergency.

~ HRW