Down to the sea: water safety event presented at Channel Islands Harbor

Air, sea and

fire rescue demonstrations

will be featured

Learning to be safe on the water is the focus of the inaugural Safe Boating Day presented from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sat., May 20 at Channel Islands Harbor. The event's theme is "Wear It." Boaters and families interested in water safety are invited to attend the event at the Coast Guard Station at Channel Islands Harbor, 4201 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard.

Highlights of the event include safety demonstrations of personal floatation devices as well as air, sea and fire rescue demonstrations at Hobie Beach by the Coast Guard, Ventura and Channel Islands Harbor Departments, Sheriff's Rescue, Gold Coast Ambulance and Ventura County Fire Department.

Specials on safety products will be provided by local marine dealers. Visitors are encouraged to bring their fire extinguishers for inspection, refills and replacements to receive a special event discount. In addition, boaters can bring in their expired flares for disposal by the Ventura County Sheriff's bomb squad.

Free hot dogs will be furnished by Boater's World, and soft drinks will be available through the Pacific Corinthian Youth Foundation.

The Coast Guard Station as well as the cutter Black Tip and other Coast Guard and harbor patrol boats will be open for tours. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and Power Squadron will be passing out free safety materials and gifts and will provide free vessel safety examinations. Inspections may be scheduled by calling Paul Bick at (805) 857-1344.

Statistics show that the No. 1 cause of boating fatalities nationally is drowning. In 2004, 484 people drowned from recreational boating accidents and about 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing personal floatation devices. National Safe Boating Day at Channel Islands Harbor will provide boaters with information from a variety of public agencies and commercial companies promoting safety on the water. This is the start of National Safe Boating Week.

"Boating enthusiasts living in Ventura County are blessed with numerous lakes, the ocean and the Channel Islands," said Henry Goldman, event coordinator. "This makes it essential for the public to learn everything they can about water safety. Knowing how to prepare for the water is crucial, and we invite the public to come and learn how to be safe and to be a part of the national campaign.

For more information, call the Channel Islands Harbor Visitors Center at (805) 9854852 or visit one of these sites: channelislandsharbor.org, or safeboatingcampaign.com.