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Office of Public Affairs |
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| News Release |
Date: December 19, 2008 |
Coast Guard offers holiday gift ideas to help save lives |
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SEATTLE — With the holidays just around the corner, the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary offer a few last minute gift ideas that may help save a life. For a potentially lifesaving gift this year, consider buying and registering a 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. Starting in February 2009, beacons that transmit only an analog signal (121.5 or 243 MHz) will no longer be "heard" by search and rescue satellites. This presents a great gift idea and an opportunity to help family or friends make the switch to 406. "Having the proper safety equipment on board your vessel significantly increases your chance of survival in the case of an emergency," said Lt. Cmdr. Andre Billeaudeaux, the Director of Auxiliary for the Thirteenth Coast Guard District. "The Auxiliary also offers free vessel safety checks to ensure a boat is in compliance with Coast Guard regulations." Additionally, the value of a properly fitting life jacket can't be under-estimated. There are a wide variety of life jackets that serve the demands of every on-the-water activity. Whether the gift recipient is an off-shore boater, coastal kayaker or inland canoeist, there's a comfortable, easy-to-wear life jacket to meet their needs. Other gift suggestions are: * Signaling kit (mirror, flares, whistle, lights, and an air horn, preferably with a pump) * Nautical charts * Submersible, hand-held VHF radio * Dry/Wet Suit * Neoprene gloves * Compass * Life raft * First aid kit Some of the most valuable gifts don't cost anything but time, such as scheduling a free vessel safety check with the local Coast Guard Auxiliary or Power Squadron. Another option is to sign-up family or friends for a boating safety course. Course topics include basic boating knowledge, laws, navigational rules and problem solving. For more information on scheduling a free vessel safety check visit www.safetyseal.net. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the United States Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in all missions, except military and direct law enforcement actions. |
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