American Safety Council Launches Florida Online Safe Boating Course
The American Safety Council announces its new online safe boating education course specifically designed for Florida boaters. The course is being launched to coincide with the start of Florida’s busy summer boating season as well as National Safe Boating Week (May 21-27, 2005).
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) May 25, 2005 -- The American Safety Council announces its
new online safe boating education course specifically designed for Florida
boaters. The course is being launched to coincide with the start of Florida’s
busy summer boating season as well as National Safe Boating Week (May 21-27,
2005).
“It’s important to realize that most boating accidents involve
individuals with no formal boating safety education,” says Bob Proechel,
president of the American Safety Council. “Many boating accidents can be
prevented if new boaters make safety a priority, which includes taking a boating
safety education course prior to venturing out on Florida’s waterways. The
American Safety Council is pleased to make the Florida boating course available
online for residents and visitors,” says Proechel.
Selected boating
statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for 2003
(the most recent year for which statistics were available):
- Total
number of registered vessels in Florida is at an all-time high with 978,225
registered in 2003.
- The most likely time to be involved in a boating
accident (as determined by accident frequency statistics) is during the months
of March, April, May, June, or July between noon and 6:00 pm while cruising.
- 48% of reported accidents were primarily caused by either
carelessness/inattention or violation of a navigation rule.
- Individuals
most likely to be operating a vessel involved in an accident are males between
the ages of 22 and 50 who have 100 hours or more of boating experience, but no
formal boater education (as determined by operator statistics).
- 16% of
those involved in a boating accident either died or were injured.
- Most
fatal boating accident victims were males (79.7%) who were 22 years of age or
older (75%).
- 45.3% of boat operators involved in a fatal boating accident
reported having over 100 hours of boating experience, while 90.6% had no formal
boater education.
Florida Boater Safety Education Requirements
Anyone 21 years of age and under who operates a vessel powered by 10
horsepower or more must pass a boater safety course and have in his/her
possession photographic identification and a boater safety identification card
issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
The
American Safety Council’s online basic boating safety course is approved by the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Association
of State Boating Law Administrators and is recognized by the United States Coast
Guard. The course is fully accredited and meets the State of Florida’s
requirements for basic boater safety education.
The course is available
online at the following website: www.FloridaBoatingCourse.com. The cost is $14.95 and includes
the online course and online exam. Students who successfully complete the course
and exam receive a full size completion certificate, wallet certificate and are
automatically reported to the State of Florida for issuance of their state
boater education identification card. For more information, contact the American
Safety Council at (800) 732-4135.
Source: American
Safety Council, Inc.
Websites: www.FloridaBoatingCourse.com
www.AmericanSafetyCouncil.com
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb243846.htm