Coast Guard urges preparedness during National Safe Boating Week

SEATTLE – In support of National Safe Boating Week, held from May 16 to 22, the Coast Guard Northwest District urges all boaters and paddlers throughout the Pacific Northwest to become knowledgeable on water safety as we enter the 2026 boating season. 

As the weather improves, the Coast Guard reminds mariners that conditions can change quickly. Last year, the Coast Guard responded to 1,295 search and rescue cases across Washington and Oregon. Accidents and fatalities on the water can be prevented with simple and effective measures: life jackets, preparation, and education. 

In all boating accidents, the five primary contributing factors are operator inattention, operator inexperience, improper lookout, machinery failure, and excessive speed. 

To stay safe on the water, the Coast Guard recommends the following: 

• Wear a life jacket. Each year, approximately 75 percent of boating deaths are due to drowning and 87 percent of those weren’t wearing life jackets. Nobody plans on falling overboard. Donning a life jacket is much harder once you’re in the water, especially if you’re tired or injured. Wearing an improperly fitted life jacket can be just as deadly as not wearing one at all. Safe Boating Council - Life Jackets (safeboatingcampaign.com) 

• Check the weather. Check the marine weather forecast prior to setting sail. Always check the tides, currents, and bar conditions for the entire route you plan to travel. Boating Safety Tips and Resources (weather.gov); NWS Seattle Marine Page (weather.gov) 

• Know who to call in an emergency. Have a VHF radio on your person if you are on deck. Know how to declare a MAYDAY on VHF Channel 16 to alert the Coast Guard and nearby boaters. If you have cell service, call 911. You can also call the local Coast Guard Command Center.  

  • Sector Puget Sound (833) 449-0369 

  • Sector Columbia River (833) 769-8724 

• Wear the appropriate attire.  Boaters and paddlers should wear clothing appropriate for the water temperature. The waters of the Pacific Northwest are deceptively colder than the air, especially in the early spring and summer months. Cold water shock can set in quickly when you are exposed to low temperatures.  

• Know your limits. Conditions can change rapidly. Knowing your limits as a boater and the limits of your vessel can help you avoid danger. 

• Mark your craft. Placing an “if found, contact ” sticker on your paddle craft will not only help someone return your craft if it accidentally drifts away, but it also helps first responders determine if you are in distress.  Contact your local marine law enforcement agency, Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power and Sail Squadron, or local Coast Guard unit for “if found, contact” stickers. 

• Take a boater safety course. Boating safely requires more than just having the proper equipment onboard your boat or paddle craft. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a range of safety classes to equip boaters and paddlers with the knowledge and skills needed to safely operate on the water. Boating Safety Education (cgaux.org) 

• Get a Vessel Safety Check. Get a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC) from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. VSCs are offered by qualified members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary to help boaters ensure they meet federal safety requirements and have the necessary equipment onboard should an emergency arise. Vessel Safety Checks (cgaux.org) 

• File a float plan. Always let a friend or family member know when you will be on the water. When going on longer ventures, creating a detailed itinerary of your plan, including; when you are arriving and departing, a means of communication, the number of passengers, and your destination. This will enable the Coast Guard to initiate an expedient response in the event of an accident. If you’re unsure about what information to share, use a Coast Guard template! Float Plan (uscg.mil) 

• Boat sober. Never boat under the influence. Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating incidents. 

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