CLEVELAND – The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Station Wilmette Harbor is scheduled to hold an open house at 10 Harbor Drive, in Wilmette, Ill., near Gillson Park, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., celebrating the kickoff of National Safe Boating Week.
From May 21 – 27, 2011, the Coast Guard is celebrating National Safe Boating Week and urging boaters to pay attention to their boating behaviors and reinforcing the importance of wearing a life jacket.
The open house will include free mini-classes in navigation, seamanship, communications, fire fighting, visual distress signals, weather, and knot tying. The open house will also include tours of the station and boats, equipment displays, free safety equipment inspections, food and prizes. Boating safety pamphlets and brochures will be available for all attendees.
If boaters wish to have any safety equipment inspected, they may bring it with them. The boating public can also take this opportunity to schedule a free Vessel Safety Check, courtesy of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel will also assist in demonstrating how to properly use equipment.
The goal of National Safe Boating Week is to heighten awareness among recreational boaters of the importance of boating responsibly and wearing a life jacket at all times. This includes informing boaters they have options when it comes to today’s modern life jackets. Some options include new inflatable versions that offer a complete range of movement.
For further information, please contact Chief Petty Officer Joel Pribek, officer-in-charge at Coast Guard Station Wilmette Harbor, at (847) 251-0185.
