| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, National Safe Boating Week is being observed from |
|
|
May 18 to 24, 2019; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Boating, including fishing, sailing, paddling, and |
|
|
waterskiing, is an immensely popular recreational activity, and the |
|
|
U.S. Coast Guard and its federal, state, and local partners |
|
|
encourage all boaters to explore and enjoy America's beautiful |
|
|
waters responsibly; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, According to the National Safe Boating Council, |
|
|
approximately 650 people die in boating-related accidents in the |
|
|
United States each year, and 76 percent of those fatalities are |
|
|
caused by drowning; the vast majority of accidents occur because of |
|
|
human error or poor judgment and can be easily prevented through |
|
|
basic safety practices, such as carrying emergency communications |
|
|
equipment, participating in free boat safety checks, remaining |
|
|
sober while navigating, and wearing life jackets; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Statistics have shown that nearly 85 percent of |
|
|
those who drowned in boating mishaps were not wearing a life jacket; |
|
|
although many boaters stow life jackets on board, there is rarely |
|
|
enough time to properly employ one in the event of an accident; in |
|
|
an effort to increase people's willingness to wear this essential |
|
|
piece of safety equipment, modern life jackets have been designed |
|
|
to be smaller, lighter, and more comfortable; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Boating accidents happen regardless of one's level |
|
|
of experience, and wearing a life jacket is the most effective way |
|
|
to prevent drowning for veteran and novice boaters alike; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize May 18 to 24, 2019, as National Safe |
|
|
Boating Week and encourage Texans to practice safe boating habits |
|
|
and to wear life jackets at all times while on the water. |