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| News Release |
Date: March 5, 2009 Contact: (843) 296-1756 |
| **Media availability** - Coast Guard urges mariners to be safe while boating |
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Media note - Coast Guard Small Boat Station crewmembers will be available to discuss boating safety tips and regulations with media members Friday. Please contact Lt. Cmdr. Eric King for interview locations and additional details at 843-296-1756. CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coast Guard reminds boaters to exercise caution while on the coastal and inland waters throughout South Carolina and Georgia. All boaters should file a float plan before leaving on their boat and let friends or family members know where they are going and when to expect them back. This critical information gives search and rescue coordinators a better idea where to search in case a boater doesn't return as planned. Boaters are reminded to know the limitations of themselves and their vessel before heading out during inclement weather. Boaters should ensure their VHF marine radio works properly and that they know how to use it. Boaters should also ensure they have properly working signaling devices aboard, such as flares or sound-producing devices. Life jackets and warm clothing should also be brought along. "Although air temperatures may reach 80 degrees this weekend, the water temperature will still be in the 50s in many locations," said Lt. Cmdr. Eric King, a search and rescue coordinator at Coast Guard Sector Charleston. "Most people can only survive a few hours in those water temperatures before they become hypothermic."
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### Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790. The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future. |
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