Submittted by Don Wilsdon

“It’s too hot!”

“It doesn’t look cool.”

“I know how to swim.”

These are just some of the reasons people say they don’t wear life jackets. But approximately 500 people drown each year from recreational boating accidents and 84 percent of these weren’t wearing life jackets. That’s why life jacket safety is the theme of this years May 21-27 National Safe Boating Week kick-off. The slogan for the campaign is WEAR IT!

In Orange Beach U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 3-10 is promoting the campaign by offering Free Vessel Safety checks at the Cotton Bayou Boat Ramp on May 21. The Boat Ramp vessel checks will begin at 7 a.m.; there will be a cookout and free hotdogs and cold drinks will be offered to everyone using the ramp from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. that day. Hot dogs and cold drinks will be donated by Winn Dixie in Orange Beach.

Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon will be on hand at the Boat Ramp to help promote the citys “Orange Beach Is Back on the Water” campaign as a tie-in to National Safe Boating Week. Other participants in the event will be U.S. Coast Guard personnel, Alabama Marine Police  personnel and the U.S. Power Squadron.

April events leading up to the May 21 kick-off event were a two-day childrens Boating Safety class at the Sea, Sand and Stars Science and Nature Center. A total of 150 Orange Beach Elementary School students attended these classes. Classes were taught by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 3-10 personnel and the inflatable Zodiak boat used in the exercises was provided by West Marine.

On Saturday, Flotilla 3-10 will be teaching a public education Boating Safety class at the Orange Beach Community Center. For more information on this, call John Griggs at 251-955-1443.

And on May 18 the Flotilla will be teaching 850 Foley Elementary School students in grades on to six about safe boating and the importance of wearing a life jacket.