• In-water lifejacket/safety demonstrations have educated hundreds of people about personal safety for themselves, their families,
OTHER RESULTS
passengers and pets.
In 2011, the Clean and Safe Boating campaign gained a little more acclaim when it became a May-October monthly Discover Better
TESTIMONIAL
Boating segment that aired, and is still on a cable television system
In 2014, New York’s first responders who handle water-related
series is driven by New York Sea Grant and sponsored by the BIA of
emergencies received Cold Water Rescue Training from White at
Upstate New York.
the 2014 Central New York State Boat Show. In the weeks following the training, Dale Currier, Oswego County Office of Emergency Management Director, received a letter from the City of Oswego Fire Department in appreciation for the training. The letter noted that two of the department’s professional firefighter-paramedics applied the training to save a life within a week of the show. Firefighter-Paramedic Raymond Abbott said, “Within a week of the training, we responded to a hypothermia call with an unresponsive victim. We applied the training that was a good review for us and the victim later walked out of the hospital without any deficits.”
reaching 25 counties with approximately 550,000 viewers. The
Comments on public survey forms distributed at the N.Y. shows offering the Clean and Safe Boating Program indicate an increased awareness of the importance of wearing lifejackets and of the most current boating laws and regulations. Anecdotally, NYSG has seen more PFD displays and stuffed animals wearing lifejackets at the CNY Boat Show each February. This past February, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 21 presented White with its 2013 Wear It! award for excellence in teaching the public about lifejacket safety. White and Currier also received letters of appreciation from U.S. Coast Guard District
Firefighter-Paramedic Christopher Stupp added, “The work of fire
9/Great Lakes. In addition, four international marine industry
and EMS providers is so diverse now that we are constantly training.
conferences have recognized the Discover Clean & Safe Boating
The cold survival training [received] at the February boat show
campaign as a model marine industry partnership program.
refreshed the finer details for a type of call that we do not often respond to in the city.” “Maintaining our own well-being and safety (as emphasized in the training) is a priority so that we can help those in need,”
For more information, contact Dave White at 315-312-3042,
www.nyseagrant.org.
Abbott noted. Photos by Brian P. What tam
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